ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 13, Part 4
January 2001
BRITISH JOURNAL OF
ENTOMOLOGY
AND NATURAL HISTORY
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BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY
Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society
and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions
Editor: M. Wilson, Ph.D., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Department of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology,
National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff CF10 3NP. (Tel: 02920 573263, Fax: 02920
239829) email: Mike.Wilson@nmegw.ac.uk
Associate Editor: Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich,
London SE22 0AZ.
Editorial Committee:
D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E:S.
R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. I. F. G. McLean, Ph.D., F.R.E.S
P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc.
B. Goater, B.Sc., M.I.Biol. P. A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S.
A. J. Halstead, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. T. R. E. Southwood, K.B., D.Sc., F.R.E:S.
R. D. Hawkins, M.A. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S.
P. J. Hodge B. K. West, B.Ed.
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Cover illustration: Aguriahana stellulata nymph (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
photo: M. R. Wilson
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BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
RHYZOBIUS CHR YSOMELOIDES (HERBST) (COLEOPTERA:
COCCINELLIDAE) NEW TO BRITAIN
ROGER D. HAWKINS
30D, Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 YEL
Abstract. The small European coccinellid beetle Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Herbst),
not previously known in Britain, has been found in Surrey (VC 17) at two localities.
Comparison is made with the common British species Rhyzobius litura (Fab.).
INTRODUCTION
The banks of motorways are often considered to be the equivalent of a nature
reserve but few people have either the opportunity or the inclination to examine their
flora and fauna since they are subject to extremes of noise and pollution, while
unauthorised access is officially discouraged. An exception to this occurs near the
village of Nutfield in east Surrey where the M23 motorway bursts through the
Greensand ridge in a deep cutting and crosses the valley to the north on an
embankment before ascending the chalk hills of the North Downs. There is a solid
fence at the top of this embankment, probably to contain the noise of traffic, so
access to the slopes is possible.
About one kilometre to the north-east of Nutfield, at grid reference TQ312516, a
track passes under the motorway to connect Lake Farm on the east side with some
cottages and fields to the west. This track is also a public footpath and on 26.iv.1996
I came along this path while routinely recording ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and other
insects for a series of local atlases. A group of young pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.)
had been planted on the west bank of the motorway and were then about four metres
high. From one of these pines I beat a small orange-brown coccinellid which |
assumed to be Scymnus suturalis Thunberg, a species found commonly on pine. As is
advisable with these tiny beetles, I took the specimen home for checking but, on
mounting it, I realised that it was a larger insect than the Scymnus, with longer
antennae, and was clearly a specimen of Rhyzobius.
About a year later I tried to name the specimen using the key by Fiirsch (1967) to
the Coccinellidae of central Europe. It appeared to be Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
(Herbst), a widespread species on the European mainland that had not previously
been recorded from the British Isles. The external differences between this species
and our common R. /itura (Fab.) are slight and it is advisable to check the male
genitalia. At that time I had no experience of dissecting such a tiny beetle and a
_ tentative probe produced only a minute piece of gut which caused me to think it was
a female. The specimen was then taken to Dr R. G. Booth who pronounced that it
was in fact a male, dissected it immediately and confirmed that it was indeed
R. chrysomeloides.
COMPARISON WITH RHYZOBIUS LITURA
The differences between these two species are illustrated by Fiirsch (1967). The
sides of the pronotum of /itura taper from the base, and increasingly towards the
front, while the pronotal edges of chrysomeloides are almost parallel-sided over
the basal quarter (Fig. 1). The prosternal carinae (between the fore coxae) of
litura taper gradually from rear to front, while in chrysomeloides the tapering is
interrupted by a parallel-sided central section and the apex is broader (Fig. 2).
194 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
a b
Fig. 1. Outline of pronotum. a. R. Jitura. b. R. chrysomeloides.
However, there is often some individual variation in this character, so it may not
always be as clear-cut as the illustrations suggest. The colour of /itura is usually
pale orange-brown, often with a U-shaped dark mark, although darker individuals
can also occur. The background colour of chrysomeloides is somewhat darker and
the dark marks are more strongly developed, sometimes with additional spots
inside the U-shaped mark. Fursch states that /itura is shortly oval and somewhat
arched, while chrysomeloides is more elongate and flatter.
The above differences are comparative and slight but the male genitalia are quite
distinct (Fig. 3). In chrysomeloides, the median lobe is more slender, elongate and
parallel-sided, and is distinctly longer than the pair of parameres, while in J/itura, the
median lobe is much shorter and stouter, and not longer than the parameres. The
median lobe of /itura also has a strong protruberant prong on its dorsal face, between
the parameres, which is lacking in chrysomeloides. This prong is clearly visible when
the genital capsule is viewed from the side. Fiirsch also illustrates differences in the
genital plates of the females, in that the coxites are more slender and elongate in
chrysomeloides than they are in Jitura.
COMMENT
The presence of the first British specimen of R. chrysomeloides on a motorway
bank brings to mind the delightful possibility that it might, quite literally, have fallen
off the back of a lorry. At present about one million lorries and over five million
Ww
Fig. 2. Prosternal carinae. a. R. Jitura. b. R. chrysomeloides. (after Bielawski, 1959)
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 )
a b
Fig. 3. Male genitalia (part). a. R. /itura. b. R. chrysomeloides. (after Bielawski, 1959)
private cars travel from mainland Europe to Britain each year (source: Eurotunnel
annual report, 1998). The chance of importing individual insects is clearly high but it
is nevertheless doubtful whether enough specimens could come in to found a
breeding colony. A more probable means of importation would be with young trees
imported from Continental nurseries.
The chance of this specimen being a primary immigrant is low—for an example to
be discovered by casual beating it is more likely that colonies already exist. I have not
been able to return to the site of the discovery with sufficient spare time to make a
further search, but during the last three years I have dissected over 300 specimens of
Rhyzobius swept from its usual grassland habitat and confirmed that all the males
were /itura. Meanwhile it is recommended that all specimens of Rhyzobius are
examined carefully, particularly if they have more extensive dark marks than usual,
or are beaten from trees or bushes, since Fiirsch (1967) noted that chrysomeloides
was found especially on pine trees and bushes, often near water. Indeed, as this note
was being prepared, a thriving colony of R. chrysomeloides was subsequently
discovered in West Molesey, Surrey (Menzies, 1999 and pers. comm.).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks are due to Graham Collins for tidying up my lop-sided drawings. I am also
grateful to Roger Booth (CABI Bioscience) for convincing me that the specimen was a
male and for performing the rather intricate dissection needed to confirm its identity.
The specimen has been presented to the Natural History Museum.
REFERENCES
Bielawski, R. 1959. Klucze do oznaczania owadow Polski. Zeszyt 76. Coccinellidae. Warsaw.
Fiirsch, H. 1967. Family Coccinellidae. In: Freude-Harde-Lohse, Die Kafer Mitteleuropas, vol.
7, pp. 227-278. Goecke & Evers, Krefeld.
Menzies, I. S. 1999. [Exhibit at 1998 BENHS annual exhibition.] British Journal of Entomology
and Natural History 12: 176.
196 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Hoverfly (Syrphidae) records from North Uist and the Monach Islands, Scotland—
July 1999—North Uist (57°.35’ N, 7°.15’ W), surface area of 341 km/?, and the five
Monach Islands (57°.30’ N, 7°.40’ W), total area of 3.5km/?, are flat and largely
treeless islands that lie in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. Together
with the other Outer Hebrides, these islands are relatively ‘unexplored’ for hoverflies
(Whiteley, 1994; Stubbs & Falk, 1993). During a week of uncharacteristically hot and
dry weather in North Uist (24—-30.vii.1999) and a visit to Ceann Ear, the largest of
the Monach Islands, on 31.vu.1999, we observed the following sixteen hoverfly
species on North Uist, one of which, Platycheirus manicatus, occurred also on the
Monach Islands.
The low hoverfly abundance and diversity we observed probably reflects the
relatively small size and geographical location of the islands, and the region’s usual
wet and windy weather conditions. However, collecting was not exhaustive or
systematic, and concentrated largely on the northern half of North Uist. The greatest
abundance of species was observed in the sand dunes and flower-rich machair at Solas,
Newton, Balranald and Clachan Shanda. In the last of these locations, two male
corncrakes (Crex crex (L.)) were calling. Unless otherwise stated, all the species listed
below were seen in these habitat types. In addition, on passing through Skye to reach
North Uist, we found Eristalis pertinax (Scop.) on a roadside verge at Broadford.
Melanostoma mellinum (L.) and Melanostoma scalare (Fab.): both Melanostoma
species were found only in Eriophorum vaginatum-rich moorland near Weaver’s
Point, Lochmaddy. Platycheirus albimanus (Fab.): machair on North Uist and
present also on a roadside verge at Broadford, Skye. Platycheirus clypeatus (Meigen);
Platycheirus manicatus (Meigen): common on North Uist and the only species
observed from Ceann Ear (Monach Islands), where it was widespread in the machair.
Metasyrphus corollae (Fab.); Sphaerophoria sp.?: females only found within
Eriophorum vaginatum-rich moorland near Weaver’s Point, Lochmaddy. Syrphus
vitripennis Meigen; Cheilosia illustrata (Harris); Cheilosia latrifons (Zett.); Rhingia
campestris Meigen; Lejogaster metallina (Fab.); Eristalis abusivus Collin; Eristalis
intricarius (L.); Helophilus pendulus (L.); Sericomyia silentis (Harris): in Eriophorum
vaginatum-rich moorland near Weaver’s Point, Lochmaddy and boggy moorland at
Newton, as well as hill-topping on Ben Mor c. 190m above sea level. However, the
S. silentis specimens collected in North Uist had white-yellow abdominal bars
(tergites 2-4) which were more similar to those of Sericomyia lappona (L.) as
illustrated in Stubbs & Falk (1993, p. 107; plate 8), and S. /appona specimens in the
collection of the Natural History Museum, London. The scutellum in S. si/entis (North
Uist specimens) is almost black, while in S. /appona (museum specimens) it is reddish.
This may be a more reliable aid to identification than the colour of the tergite bars.
We thank Edward Wake, Katherine Wake and Susie Gibbs for their assistance
with this study; Niall Johnson (The Uist Outdoor Centre) for taking us to the
Monach Islands in Sea Fury, and Nigel Wyatt (The Natural History Museum,
London) for confirming our hoverfly species determination.—ANGUS MCCULLOCH,
57 Endell Street, London WC2H 9AJ & ANDREW WAKEHAM-DAWSON, DETR,
Floor 3/H11, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE
REFERENCES
Stubbs, A. E. & Falk, S. J. 1993. British Hoverfties. British Entomological and Natural History
Society.
Whiteley, D. (Ed.) 1994. A Special Collection of Papers on the Outer Hebrides and Rum.
Dipterist’s Digest, 14.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13; 2001
PSEUDOCOLLINELLA JORLII (CARLES-TOLRA) (DIPTERA:
SPHAEROCERIDAE) NEW TO BRITAIN, AND NEW RECORDS OF
SPHAEROCERIDAE FROM KENFIG NATIONAL NATURE
RESERVE, GLAMORGAN
PIGATT
51/1 College Street, Rabat, RBT 06, Malta.
Abstract. Eleven species of lesser dung flies (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) are newly
recorded from Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan. Of these, Pseudocolli-
nella jorlii (Carles-Tolra) is new to Britain, PAthitia plumosula (Rondani) is
uncommon, and Telomerina pseudoleucoptera (Duda) is rare. This increases the
total number of species of Sphaeroceridae known from Kenfig from 26 to 37. Further
collecting and trapping at this faunistically rich site may reveal more species.
INTRODUCTION
The dipterous fauna of Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan, has been
extensively studied and a detailed report given by Deeming (1995). It is therefore of
interest to add a further 11 species of Sphaeroceridae (all in the subfamily
Limosininae) to the 26 already known from Kenfig. One of these species,
Pseudocollinella jorlii (Carles-Tolra) was previously unknown from Britain.
All specimens were collected by myself during a visit to the site on 10.vii.1995.
Representative material has been deposited in the National Museum of Wales. Cardiff.
PSEUDOCOLLINELLA JORLII (CARLES-TOLRA)
The genus Pseudocollinella Duda, 1924, is a Holarctic genus comprising 19 species,
5 of which occur in the Palaearctic Region. Until recently, it has been treated as part
of Opacifrons Duda (Marshall & Smith, 1993).
Five species groups have been defined within the genus. P. jorlii, and the very
closely related P. humida (Haliday) constitute the Palaearctic humida group.
P. humida is a common, hygrophilous species widely distributed in the Palaearctic
Region. It is also widely distributed in Britain, where it has been collected from beside
ponds and streams, amongst vegetation or on dried-up river beds and on marshes
(Pitkin, 1988). Deeming (1995) has recorded a single specimen from Kenfig and I
have collected a series of 3 males and 6 females from the mud around Kenfig Pool.
P. jorlii was first described from Spain (Carles-Tolra, 1990) as Opacifrons jorlii and
has subsequently also been recorded from Portugal, Italy, Morocco, Algeria and,
more recently, from Malta (Gatt, in litt.). Its distribution. although probably wide,
cannot be stated with certainty as it has previously been confused with humida. I
have collected a single female from the area around Kenfig Pool. The occurrence of
P. jorlii in Britain was hitherto unknown.
P. jorlii can be distinguished from the very similar humida by differences in the
male and female post-abdominal structures, figured in outline by Carles-Tolra
(1990). The female 10th sternite (hypoproct, subanal plate), referred to as sternite 9
by Carles-Tolra but now deemed to be sternite 10, is markedly different in both
Species, and is here refigured with detail for both. In Jorlii, the 10th sternite in strict
ventral view is horse-shoe shaped with a large, pyriform, anteromedial, desclerotised
and depigmented area (Fig. 1a). In specimens which have been overcleared this area
198 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
i if NI ny
“ci AYU unt Ny
iy
UD
nal an
more aN
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Figure 1. Pseudocollinella Duda. Female sternite 10 (hypoproct, subanal plate) in strict ventral
view: a, jorlii; b, humida.
Figure 2. Pseudocollinella Duda. Female mid-tibia, dorsal view: a, jorlii; b, humida.
Abbreviations: DAD=distal anterodorsal bristle, DD=distal dorsal bristle, DPD = distal
posterodorsal bristle. Scale bars: sternites 0.21 mm, tibiae 0.3 mm.
may be so pale as to be completely transparent, and it will then take the semblance of
a pyriform excision. Two highly sclerotised spine-like thickenings of the ante-
romedial margin of the sternite flank its apex. In hwmida, the 10th sternite is roughly
quadrangular in shape with a highly setulose posterior third, a finely rugose central
part and a paler triangular anteromedial zone (Fig. 1b). Spine-like thickenings are
completely absent.
The 3 dorsal bristles that occur on the distal part of the middle tibia of both species
also provide useful distinguishing characters. For the sake of clarity, I have adopted
the terminology used by Marshall & Smith (1993) to describe the position of these 3
important bristles: distal anterodorsal (DAD), distal dorsal (DD), and distal
posterodorsal (DPD). In jorlii, the DPD is weak and short, about half the length of
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 fa)
the DD and more or less the same length as the DAD (Fig. 2a). By contrast, the
DPD in humida is strong and long, about the same length as the DD and longer than
the DAD (Fig. 2b). These differences are apparent in the figures given by Carles-
Tolra (1990). His descriptions of the mid-tibial chaetotaxy, however, are not
completely clear, and may have led to a small error in couplet 4 of Marshall &
Smith’s (1993) key to the known species of Pseudocollinella. The key can be rectified
as follows:
4, Distal posterodorsal bristle of midtibia shorter than distal dorsal (not distal
anterodorsal) bristle. Paramere U-shaped ...... jorlii (Carles-Tolra). Europe.
Distal posterodorsal bristle of midtibia as long as distal dorsal (not anterodorsal)
Dristiombaramerc'siraisht 292. . 2020. humida (Haliday). Palaearctic.
The biology of this species is not known. The type series was, however, collected
from marshes, pools, river banks, a dead tadpole and a cave. These and other data
suggest that it is a hygrophilous species with larvae developing in mud as do those of
P. humida.
P. jorlii, misidentified as humida may well be represented in several European
collections (Munari, 1992). Likewise, search amongst specimens identified as humida
in British collections may unearth further specimens of jor/ii.
OTHER NEW RECORDS
These are given with the species listed in alphabetical order. Notes on the biology
and geographical distribution of each species are given.
Chaetopodella scutellaris (Haliday)
Predominantly a pasture symbovilous species, C. scute/laris has also been recorded
from human faeces as well as from carrion. It is widespread in Europe, and there are
records from Africa and Afghanistan. Five males and 5 females were collected from
fresh cow dung at Kenfig.
Coproica acutangula (Zetterstedt)
A coprophagous species recorded from the dung of cow, horse, sheep, pig, dog and
man. Cosmopolitan. Forty-seven males and 38 females were collected from cow dung
mixed with mud at the edge of Kenfig Pool.
Coproica ferruginata (Stenhammar)
A symbovilous, coprophagous species, secondarily synanthropic in farming
communities. Cosmopolitan. One female was collected from fresh cow dung.
Coproica lugubris (Haliday)
A coprophagous species widely distributed in Europe and east to Afghanistan and
Korea, and also recorded from North Africa (Tunisia). Eleven males and 6 females
were collected from fresh cow dung.
200 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Coproica pusio (Zetterstedt)
A coprophagous species found on the dung of horse and pig, but also recorded
from rotting vegetation (Pitkin, 1988). Widely distributed in Europe and east to
Afghanistan and Mongolia. Two females were collected from fresh cow dung.
Leptocera (Leptocera) caenosa (Rondani)
A eusynanthropic, polysaprophagous species which is only rarely collected out of
doors, and then usually in caves or on carrion (Rohacek, pers. comm.). It is often
collected on windows and readily breeds in human sewage. Cosmopolitan. One
female was collected at Kenfig.
Leptocera (Leptocera) nigra Olivier
The larvae of L. nigra develop in mud or wet soil and adults are to be found in
damp, grassy biotopes and alongside streams and ponds. Adults may also be found
on dung. Possibly confined to temperate areas of the entire Palaearctic Region,
where it is extremely common in the south, especially the Mediterranean (Rohacek,
1982). Also confirmed from the Afrotropical Region (Rohacek, pers. comm.). Three
females were taken from the area around Kenfig Pool.
Leptocera (Rachispoda) limosa (Fallen)
Usually found on damp ground at the edge of ponds, streams and marshes, but
has also been collected from dung. A Holarctic species, widely distributed in Europe
and east to Afghanistan, also recorded from North Africa. Twenty-seven males and
30 females were collected from wet mud at Kenfig Pool.
Phthitia (Kimosina) plumosula (Rondan1)
Generally uncommon, this species usually occurs in damp shady biotopes such as
woodland meadows and streams, and under decaying vegetation. It has also been
taken from caves, and from windows. Widely distributed in Europe, P. plumosula
probably has its origin in eastern North America from where it has subsequently
been introduced to Europe and Chile (Marshall & Smith, 1992). This species is not
usually taken from dung. Some of the 8 males and 6 females taken at Kenfig, were,
however, collected from fresh cow dung.
Telomerina pseudoleucoptera (Duda)
An uncommon species which is associated with the dung of large herbivores.
Known only from Europe, where it is widespread, it is rarely collected (Marshall &
Rohacek, 1984). One female was taken from fresh cow dung at Kenfig.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank Dr John C. Deeming (Cardiff, UK) and Dr Martin Ebejer (Balzan,
Malta) for reading drafts of the manuscript and suggesting improvements. Dr
Deeming is also thanked for organising the trip to Kenfig, and for his assistance and
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 w
hospitality during my stay in Wales. Dr Jindrich Rohacek (Opava, Czech Republic)
is thanked for sharing useful, unpublished information.
REFERENCES
Carles-Tolra, M. 1990. New species and records of Sphaeroceridae (Dipt.) from Spain.
Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 126: 33-46.
Deeming, J. C. 1995. Diptera (True Flies) from the Kenfig National Nature Reserve,
Glamorgan. National Museum of Wales: Entomology Series 4: \-113.
Marshall, S. A. & Rohaéek, J. 1984. A revision of the genus Te/lomerina Rohacek (Diptera,
Sphaeroceridae). Systematic Entomology 9: 127-163.
Marshall, S. A. & Smith, I. P. 1992. A revision of the New World and Pacific Phthitia Enderlein
(Diptera; Sphaeroceridae; Limosininae), including Kimosina Rohacek, new synonym and
Aubertinia Richards, new synonym. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 161:
1-83.
Marshall, S. A. & Smith, I. P. 1993. A revision of the Nearctic Pseudocollinella Duda (Diptera:
Sphaeroceridae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 835-857.
Munari, L. 1992. New records of lesser dung flies from Italy and distributional notes on
Opacifrons jorlii Carles-Tolra, 1990 (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae). Bollettino del Museo civico
di Storia naturale di Venezia 41 (1990): 225-229.
Pitkin, B. R. 1988. Lesser Dung Flies. Diptera: Sphaeroceridae. Handbooks for the Identification
of British Insects 10(Se): 1-175.
Rohacek, J. 1982. Revision of the Subgenus Leptocera(s. str.) of Europe (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae).
Entomologische Abhandlungen. Staatlichen Museum fiir Tierkunde in Dresden 46: \—-4.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Behavioural observations of Philanthus triangulum (Fab.) (Hymenoptera).—
Philanthus triangulum (Fab.), the European bee wolf, is a species of solitary wasp
found throughout Western Europe. Over the past 7-8 years it has been undergoing a
population resurgence after a period of reduced numbers. A newly established colony
of P. triangulum was discovered in the grounds of St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey,
Surrey. This colony had probably only been present for one to three years before the
date of discovery (June 1996). The colony was observed to establish on the same site
over the next two years and in 1998 a new colony was observed in a separate location
approximately 150 metres from the first. Due to its small size (10—20 individuals) this
probably established in 1998, possibly as an offshoot of the first colony.
The first colony was the focus of a short period of field study during the summer of
1998. During the period of study, on several occasions (4-5) two wasps were
observed using one nest entrance. Each wasp would open the entrance itself (i.e. clear
the plug of soil put in place to prevent parasitism), and close the entrance after it.
The wasps would remain in the nest burrow together and then leave separately.
There was no evidence of aggression, as was sometimes seen when one female entered
another’s nest in order to plunder paralysed worker bees from the nest.
There are several possible explanations for this behaviour. The females could have
been sharing nest entrances, but have had separate nest burrows underground. This
is the most likely explanation, as many other species of solitary wasp show this
behaviour. The nest sharing could have been accidental, due to misidentification of
nest sites. This was observed occurring at several different burrows so this is less
likely. Alternatively the females could have been exhibiting some degree of social
behaviour. No papers so far found have described any of these behaviours
for P. triangulum. Whichever is true this novel behaviour is worthy of extra study.—
JASON Moore, Selwyn College, Cambridge CB3 9DQ.
202 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Notes on the Irish Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) including two species
new to Ireland.—The authors are aware of only three species of Megastigmus on the
Irish list. These are M. pictus (Foérster), M. pinus Parfitt and M. suspectus Borries
(Boucek, 1970; O'Connor & O’Connor, 1984). From work on material housed in the
National Museum of Ireland, it is now possible to add another two species to the
Irish list viz. M. dorsalis (Fab.) and M. spermotrophus Wachtl and to report a second
Irish record of M. pictus. Most of the specimens are from the A. W. Stelfox
Collection and were returned to the National Museum of Ireland by the Smithsonian
Institution in 1985 (Beirne, 1985). These had been identified by the late M. W. R. de
V. Graham who also determined the Oaklands specimen of M. dorsalis. In case of
any possible labelling errors made by the senior author while transferring the Stelfox
material between the two museums, these specimens and the others cited in this paper
have all been redetermined using Boucek (op. cit.). Unless otherwise stated,
distribution and host data are from Noyes (1998).
New records
Megastigmus dorsalis (Fab.) New to Ireland
TIPPERARY: 9, Ballinacourty (R8630), 15.1x.1943, A. W. Stelfox; WEXFORD: 3,
Oaklands (S7125), 18.vi.1982, J. P. & M. A. O’Connor; WICKLOW: Clara (T1792),
4.1x.1938, A. W. Stelfox.
This species is also known from Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Sweden, the former U.S.S.R. and India. It is a hyperparasitoid in cynipid galls on
oak Quercus.
Megastigmus spermotrophus Wachtl New to:Ireland
DOWN: 3, Donard Lodge (J3629), 16.v.1957, ‘““ex Douglas Fir cones”, A. W. Stelfox;
DUBLIN: 2, Glenasmole (O1019), 17.vi.1942, A. W. Stelfox; WICKLOW: 9434,
Powerscourt (02116), 29.1v.1921, “‘from the cones of the Douglas Fir’, J. G. Reinhart.
This species is also known from Austria, Britain, Czechoslovakia, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Poland, the former U.S.S.R., New Zealand and North
America. It is a seed feeder on Abies and Pseudotsuga especially P. menziesii.
Megastigmus pictus (Forster) Second Irish record
DUBLIN: 2, Lucan (00335), 28.vi.1944, A. W. Stelfox.
This species was previously reported from Knickeen, Co. Wicklow (Boucek, op.
cit.). M. pictus 1s also known from Britain, Germany, Poland, Sweden, The
Netherlands, the former U.S.S.R. and China. It is a seed feeder on Larix.
The senior author is very grateful to the late M. W. R. de V. Graham for identifying
specimens and to M. A. O’Connor for her help during field-work.—J. P. O'CONNOR,
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland; R. NASH,
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 SAB, Northern Ireland.
REFERENCES
Beirne, B. P., 1985. Irish Entomology: the first hundred years. Special Entomological
Supplement to The Irish Naturalists’ Journal. 40pp.
Boucek, Z., 1970. On some British Megastigmus (Hym. Torymidae), with a revised key to the
west European species. Entomologist’s Gazette 21: 265-275.
O’Connor, J. P. and O’Connor, M. A., 1984. The fir seed chalcid, Megastigmus pinus Parfitt
(Hym., Torymidae), new to Ireland. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 120: 102.
Noyes, J. S., 1998. Catalogue of the Chalcidoidea of the world. CD-ROM. ETI and The Natural
History Museum. Amsterdam and London.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
THE NYMPHAL STAGES OF THE FIELD GRASSHOPPER,
CHORTHIPPUS BRUNNEUS (THUNBERG)
(ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)
G. B. COLLINS
15, Hurst Way, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 7AP, UK.
Abstract. Hind-femora measurements of the Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus
brunneus (Thunberg), collected at all stages of development from three sites in the
Croydon area, showed that most females had five nymphal stages, while a small
proportion at two of the sites passed through only four. A simple correlation found
between antennal segmentation and numerical stage for nymphs of known
developmental history provided an independent means of assigning a number to a
nymphal stage when background details were lacking, and permitted assessment of
the nymphal histories of adults. These findings are discussed against a background of
the four-stage nymphal histories apparently widely found for females of this species
reared in captivity.
INTRODUCTION
Captive rearing of small numbers of nymphal grasshoppers found hatching on
Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, in 1941, although far from successful,
showed reversal of the wing-rudiments for females of C. brunneus occurring at the
third moult, while the only female to reach the adult state passed through five
nymphal stages. Similar small-scale trials at Aberystwyth in the following years on
nymphs both taken in the field and hatched in captivity confirmed a five-stage
nymphal development for females, as opposed to the four-stage sequence found for
males of this species and for both sexes of C. parallelus (Zett.). Further rearing trials
in 1949 on C. brunneus collected as first-stage nymphs from Mitcham Common.
Surrey (now London Borough of Merton), led to similar results so that. although
numbers involved were still low, there seemed no reason to doubt that a five-stage
nymphal sequence was normal for females of this species.
The publication by Richards & Waloff (1954) of the results of their intensive study
of British grasshoppers gave widespread currency to their view that both sexes of
C. brunneus had four nymphal instars, and called into question the validity of the
above conclusion. The possibility that a different developmental pattern prevailed
under more natural conditions had to be considered, and a study devised that would
minimise any spurious effects of captive rearing. Individual nymphs cannot readily
be monitored in the field, while the statistical study of wild populations is beset with
difficulties and uncertainties. The compromise adopted was to collect nymphs at all
stages of development; to measure their hind-femora, count the antennal segments,
note the aspect of the wing-rudiments and external female genitalia; and to retain
each nymph until it had completed at least one moult, so that these features could be
assessed for the next instar and thus compared with those observed in the field.
Reversal of the wing-rudiments, with the costal margins becoming directed
upwards towards the mid-dorsal line and the hindwings overlapping the forewings
while presenting the undersurface to the exterior, normally marks the onset of the
penultimate nymphal stage (Uvarov, 1966): no exception to this was encountered in
the present study. In C. brunneus the reversed hindwing rudiments reach to the rear
end of the first abdominal tergite in the penultimate, and to the rear end of the third
204 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
in the final nymphal stage. Thus for an individual having a total of N nymphal stages
the last two can be recognised by this character alone and denoted as stages N-1 and
N even though the numerical value of N may be unknown.
Although not forming part of the study as originally planned, a further rearing
trial on nymphs hatched in captivity was undertaken to supplement the information
obtained from this.
SITES STUDIED
A. South Croydon: An area where, a few years previously, topsoil had been replaced
over tipped domestic refuse, and the vegetation allowed to regenerate naturally.
Here C. brunneus was clearly dominant, although occasional specimens of
C. parallelus occurred, probably as vagrants from nearby established grassland.
B. South Croydon: Disused railway sidings and adjacent abandoned allotments.
C. brunneus was the only grasshopper found.
C. Mitcham Common, London Borough of Merton: A mosaic of grassland types,
where C. parallelus was more conspicuous than C. brunneus, while other species
of grasshopper were also present.
EXPERIMENTAL
Site A
In 1969, 41 male and 52 female nymphs were collected, of which 22 and 31
respectively were retained for at least one moult. These were housed singly in 1-lb
jam-jars, the metal closures of which were lodged in place without being screwed
home. Grass cut from an untreated and unmown garden plot was supplied for food,
and the jars thoroughly cleaned, every two days. The jars were kept at ambient
indoor temperature, placed in the sun for an hour or so each day, but given no
artificial irradiation. Humidity was probably higher than desirable, some beads of
condensed moisture usually being present in the upper parts of the jars. For the final
stage the nymphs were transferred singly to 2-lb jars with loose-fitting metal covers;
these provided somewhat less humid conditions. All nymphal casts were retained as
physical evidence of moulting.
The lengths of the hind-femora were recorded upon capture and after each moult.
The insects were immobilised by being placed for a few minutes in the freezing
compartment of a domestic refrigerator, and measurements made by direct
comparison with a glass scale engraved in millimetres and tenths, laid above and
in contact with the femur and viewed at x16 with a stereomicroscope.
Measurements of hind-femora detached from nymphs that died indicated that this
procedure was sound. Furthermore, measurements of the hind-femora of nymphal
casts, if detached without damage to the basal end, were identical with live
measurements in 67 comparisons, 0.1 mm different in 53, and 0.2 mm different in 9,
the larger differences being confined to the later stages. In no instance did the
discrepancy exceed 4% and occasionally a cast measurement was used when a moult
occurred before a live measurement could be made.
The stage at which wing-reversal occurred was noted, and nymphs with reversed
wings identified with stages N-1 or N. Some counts of antennal segments were made
during life, but a much more detailed study of the antennal sheaths detached from
the retained casts was made later. Many complete sequences of the latter were
prepared for microscopic examination (Collins, 1988) to determine the pattern of
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 205
growth, and the agreement between their segmentation and that recorded for the
corresponding live instar established. A few rough sketches were made of the
developing female genitalia, but other features such as ratios of head to pronotal
lengths, and details of the fastigial foveolae, tympanal grooves and wing-lobes before
reversal, although changing progressively during nymphal development, proved
unhelpful in the present context and were not pursued further.
Certain aspects of the results obtained in 1969 highlighted a need for further
investigation and the exercise was repeated, with some modifications, in 1970.
Attention was concentrated on female nymphs, 87 of which were collected and 63
retained for at least one moult. Because of the possibly adverse effects of freezing,
nymphs were immobilised for measurement by gentle compression from above by the
bottom of a plastic Petri dish, on which the glass scale was laid, against a film of thin
rubber stretched like a drumhead over a cavity below. Provided that at least two days
elapsed before moulted nymphs were thus treated, no harm resulted. As before, hind-
femora measurements of nymphal casts, or of the corpses of the few that died, were
occasionally used when a gap occurred in the data for live nymphs. More attention
was directed to the antennae of living nymphs; counts of the flagellar segments were
recorded for at least one stage of almost every individual, and confirmed for a few
casts.
Sites B and C
During both 1973 and 1975 the approach of 1970 was applied to a total of 41
females from site B and 11 from site C. Counts of the antennal segments were
confined to the later stages of one apparently aberrant individual from site B in 1973
and another from this site in 1975. Some sketches were made of the developing
external genitalia, particularly those of the second instar.
RESULTS
Site A, 1969
The measurements of the hind femora have been plotted as histograms in Figs |
and 2. The data for males fall into four discrete clusters, the last two of which are
identified by wing character with stages N-1 and N. The progress of nymphal
development is indicated by the diagonal relationship between the clusters,
individuals represented in any cluster in series b to d having contributed, at one
stage earlier, to the cluster one position to the left in the series immediately above.
This reveals that, of 18 males taken in the first stage, 12 reached the second, 10 the
third and 10 the final fourth nymphal stage. Captive rearing has had little effect on
the dimensions, and the vertical correspondence between the clusters indicates that
nymphs taken in the field exhibited the same four stages.
In contrast, the data for females fall into five somewhat diffuse clusters. Rearing
histories showed that of the 18 nymphs taken in the first stage, two developed
differently from the others, wing-reversal occurring at the second moult and full
nymphal development being completed in four stages. The blocks representing these
two are shown solid. A third wild nymph with hind-femora 4.1mm long showed
wing-reversal at the next moult and became adult after a further two, while two
others (hind-femora 5.5 and 6.0mm) had reversed wing-buds when captured and
reached the adult state after two moults. Antennal segmentation (see below)
provided strong evidence that these three were also four-stage types, and the blocks
206 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
individuals
eine
Nos. of
[@) oa
|
0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 8.0
Length of hind-femora (mm)
woner---- —_——_———- <————__> <->
Wing-buds lobate Wing-buds Wing-buds
reversed reversed
(N-1) type N type
Fig. 1. C. brunneus. Hind-femora lengths of male nymphs, Site A, 1969: a—on capture, b—after
1, c—after 2, d—after 3 moults in captivity, e—totals of a-d combined.
displaying their development are shaded. If the contribution to the histograms of
these five individuals is disregarded the clustering of the data for the remainder is
much closer. The diagonal relationship already described shows that, of the 16
remaining nymphs taken in the first stage, 10 completed development in five nymphal
stages, while one more may be accepted as being in this category by having N-1 type
wing-buds after the third moult. Counts of the antennal segments recorded for some
or all of the known nymphal stages of these 11 (Table 1) were compared with those
for field specimens with incomplete rearing histories. Five individuals from the
second cluster, six from the third and two from the fourth, for which this was
possible, had counts that confirmed the numerical agreement between stage upon
capture and position of the cluster. The predominance of a five-stage nymphal
history implied by the vertical correspondence between the clusters thus received
substantial independent support.
Site A, 1970
All hind femora measurements combined have been plotted as histograms in Fig.
3, where blocks representing new captures are distinguished by light shading. The
pattern, as for females in 1969, is strongly suggestive of a predominantly five-stage
nymphal history. A few outliers from the main clusters are again present, but none
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 27
105 a mums 4-stage history known 4-stage history deduced
Nos. of individuals
oO oi Oo on oO on
@ a ie}
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 9.0 9.5 10.0
Length of hind-femora (mm)
Wing-buds lobate
Wing-buds Wing-buds
reversed reversed
(N-1) type N type
Fig. 2. C. brunneus. Hind-femora lengths of female nymphs, Site A, 1969: a—on capture, b—after
1, c—after 2, d—after 3, e—after 4 moults in captivity, totals of a-e combined.
this year could be attributed to individuals known from rearing history alone to be
four-stage types. Four were however judged to be so when their antennal
segmentation was taken into account; the blocks representing these are heavily
shaded. These aberrant specimens would not have been recognised by hind femora
length alone; only two on capture had dimensions that stand clear of the main cluster
in the penultimate stage while, in the final stage, no such distinction was observed. In
fact the reverse inference might be drawn, that the two individuals with hind femora
6.2mm long in the penultimate stage, and these again plus others with hind femora
of 8.9mm or less in the final nymphal stage, could have been four-stage types.
Rearing details alone were insufficient to dispel this view, but, when combined with
antennal segmentation, gave clear indication of a five-stage sequence for all these.
One female taken in the first stage had wing-reversal delayed until the fourth moult
and died in the fifth stage. Had it lived it presumably would have had six nymphal
stages. Data for this specimen have been omitted from the results included here.
208 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Sites B and C, 1973 and 1975
The distribution of hind-femora lengths for all stages, caught and reared, from
both sites and for both years combined, are shown as histograms in Fig. 4. The
close similarity of the clustering to that seen for site A indicates that again a five-
stage history predominated. In 1973 two individuals from site B had hind-femora
measurements that, combined with wing structure, distinguished them from the
main clusters. One of these was identified as a four-stage type when the antennal
segmentation was taken into account. No segmentation was recorded for the
other, but the appearance of reversed wing-buds on moulting from a nymph with
on capture
after moulting
4-stage type on capture
15 4-stage type after moulting
Numbers
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 7.0
Length of hind-femora (mm)
momnac —————< m—__—_—_
Wing-buds lobate Wing-buds Wing-buds
reversed reversed
(N-1) type N_ type
Fig. 3. C. brunneus. Hind-femora lengths of female nymphs, Site A, 1970: all data combined.
on capture
after moulting
4-stage type on capture
4-stage type after moulting
=
oO
Numbers
a
Length of hind-temora (mm)
Wing-buds lobate Wing-buds Wing-buds
reversed reversed
(N-1) type N_ type
Fig. 4. C. brunneus. Hind-femora lengths of female nymphs, Sites B and C, 1973 and 1975: all
data combined.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 209
hind-femora only 3.9mm long strongly suggested that this also was of a four-stage
type. In 1975 a third specimen from site B was again regarded as having four nymphal
stages on the strength of hind-femora measurements and sequence of wing
development; for this the antennal segmentation provided supporting evidence. The
blocks representing these three individuals are shaded more strongly.
For the second instar of most females the ovipositor valves of sternite 8 were
present as a pair of blunt triangles, varying in size, but with the apices noticeably
short of the rear end of sternite 9. In this they contrasted with female C. parallelus for
which, in the second of the four-stage sequence typical of this species, the valves of
sternite 8 normally reach, or even overlap, the rear end of sternite 9. Two of the
nymphs apparently approached this conformation, but, for these, sternite 9 either
had a strongly excised rear margin or, more probably, bore a curved pre-apical
groove that could be mistaken for this; these two shared the common five-stage
sequence. For the only nymph with a four-stage history to be thus examined in the
second stage this feature did not appear to be markedly different from that of most
of the others. It seems possible that the relative positions of these parts may change
with the distension of the segments as the stage progresses and that a more extensive
appraisal is needed to detect any difference, if such exists, between the two nymphal
types.
Supplementary, 1976
The four-stage female taken in the second stage from site B and reared to an adult
in 1975 remained in isolation until mated with a wild adult male from the same site.
From the three batches of eggs laid, 17 nymphs hatched the following year. Two died
at the first moult, but the remainder, housed two to a 2-lb jam-jar, were reared as
described for 1969. A male and a female, both with reversed wing-rudiments, died in
the third stage; 13 others reached the adult state. Of the 15 that could be categorised,
five were five-stage and four were four-stage females, six were four-stage males. The
antennal segmentation was recorded for the adults and for all female nymphal casts
(see Tables | and 2), that for the four-stage females agreeing with the findings for the
two sharing a known four-stage history in 1969.
Antennal segmentation
The antennae of first-stage nymphs consisted, without exception, of a scape and
pedicel followed by an 11-segmented flagellum. Occasionally, towards the end of the
stage, faint indications of future subdivisions became visible through the integument.
but, after moulting, the flagellar sheath retained its 11 segments. In the second stage
the original segmentation was still clearly defined by bold sutures, but slightly weaker
new ones were visible on flagellar segments | and 6 and, with decreasing intensity, on
segments 5, 4 and sometimes 3. Antennal casts of these and succeeding stages
normally reproduced exactly the segmentation observed in the living insect. While
the antennal characteristics of the first two instars offer an additional feature for
identifying these, they provide no clue as to the future developmental pattern. Counts
recorded here have been restricted to those for the later instars, when enumeration of
the stage coupled with the aspect of the wings is of value in this connection.
The segmental counts reported by Richards & Waloff (1954) tend to span rather
wide ranges, with some overlap between successive stages. Some of this variation
may be attributed to the uncertain status of one of the divisions towards the base of
the flagellum which, by being often weaker than the others, leaves in doubt whether
210 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
the region involved should be counted as one segment showing incipient subdivision
or as two segments partially fused. Mason (1954) accepted the second interpretation
and appended to the total count two (or more) consecutive numbers joined by a plus
sign to denote the partially fused segments; this system, with the fused segments
shown in brackets, has been adopted here. Counts, expressed in this way, of flagellar
segments for nymphs are shown in Table 1, and for adults in Table 2.
The differing total counts for any one of these later stages can be adjusted by the
addition of the first bracketed figure. Thus flagellar counts for third instar females
that, depending upon interpretation, could be regarded as ranging between 15 and 19
are brought to a common value of 22, a sum that increases by two at each subsequent
moult. This regularity has been of value in deducing the numerical stage when
rearing details were incomplete. In the tables, the number of individuals having any
one count is indicated by two figures separated by a colon. The first of these is the
number for which stage and developmental type are known from rearing history; the
second is the number assigned to that stage through a shared flagellar segmentation.
For the latter, inclusion in a particular developmental category has been based on a
combination of numerical stage thus deduced with a rearing history that, although
incomplete, includes stages N-1, N or adult.
Growth of the hind femora
The factorial increase in length of the hind-femora at each moult was calculated
for the entire sequence recorded for every individual of known or deduced nymphal
history. The combined values for years and sites are summarised for males and both
female sequences as ranges and means + one standard deviation of the mean (1 sem)
in Table 3. The relatively steady value of the factor over the successive nymphal
Table 1. Flagellar segmentation of nymphal instars.
Five-stage 2 Four-stage ° Four-stage 3
1969 1970 1976 1969 1970 1976 1969
3rd instar 16(6+7) 0:1 0:1
IW (sr@) ies 0:2 2:0
18 (4+5) 10:5 239) 3:0 1:2 0:1 3:0 le il
19 (3 +4) 1:1 0:3 4:9
Ath instar 19(5+6) 0:1 0:1
20 (4+5) 8:5 he 33) 5:0 0:1
21 (3 +4) 0:1 0:3 0:3 3:0 4:4
Sth instar 21 (5+6) 0:1
22 (4+5) 5:2 0: 36 5:0
23 (3+4) 1:0 0:1
Table 2. Flagellar segmentation of adults.
Five-stage 2 Four-stage ° Four-stage 3
1970 1976 1969 1970 1973 1976 1976
1975
23 (3+4) 0:1 0:1 0:2 3:0 5:0
24 (4+5) 0:15 5:0
BR. J. ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Table 3. Factorial increase in length of hind-femora at each moult.
epee a a E-card a el
Five-stage females, Site A, 1969-70
Moult Ist 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Number i) 26 48 37 32
Range 1.37—1.50 1.26—1.44 1.26—1.43 1.23—1.37 1.20-1.32
Mean+1 sem 1.43+0.01 1.38+0.01 1.36+0.005 1.33+0.005 1.25+0.005
Four-stage females, Site A, 1969-70, Site B, 1973, 1975
Moult Ist 2nd 3rd Final
Number 2 6 11 7
Range 1.44, 1.52 1.45-1.54 1.34-1.44 1.23-1.30
Mean+1 sem 1.48 1.49+0.01 1.40+0.01 1.27+0.01
Males, Site A, 1969
Moult Ist 2nd 3rd Final
Number 10 15 20 li
Range 1.37-1.54 1.38—-1.47 1.26—1.40 1.20-1.27
Mean+1 sem 1.46+0.02 1.42+0.01 1.35+0.01 1.25+0.005
ee er ee eee
stages is in accord with Dyar’s rule (1890); the rather sudden decline for the final
moult parallels that found for the migratory locust by Duarte (1938). The slightly
larger values at each moult for the females having four nymphal stages as compared
with those having five reflects the out-of-step growth patterns of the two types.
DISCUSSION
It has been shown that the majority of female C. brunneus studied at three sites in
the Croydon area had five nymphal stages, while a small proportion from two of
these passed through only four. The first intimation of a five-stage nymphal history
came from the developmental pattern seen at Aberystwyth, when the possible
occurrence of the shorter sequence was not foreseen. Evidence for the presence there
of both types is however provided by seven pinned females, collected as adults. that
remain from this period. Antennal segmentation of six confirms a history of five
nymphal stages, while for the seventh it is indicative of a development completed in
only four. A mainly five-stage nymphal sequence, with a small contribution from
four-stage individuals, has also been reported by Hassall & Grayson (1987) for
female C. brunneus at two sites in East Anglia. This pattern of development has
therefore occurred in Britain across a wide geographical range.
Variation in instar number is well recognised in non-British Acrididae and. for
some locust species, has been associated with phase variation (Uvarov. 1966).
Possibly because locusts have been much studied in the swarming phase, the lower
number of instars typical of this has been regarded as the norm, the solitary
individuals being credited with an extra stage. Historically the term “extra” has often
been applied to one particular instar, pictured as an interpolation between two
consecutive stages of the shorter sequence and duplicating, in a larger version, that
preceding it. Nomenclature has reflected this, so that a third instar considered as the
extra has been numbered IIa. This is misleading in implying, probably incorrectly,
that instar II is fully equivalent in both sequences. In the examples of female
C. brunneus encountered here it is clear that the nymphal stages, whether four or five,
follow a regular progression, with the growth of the hind-femora in reasonable
agreement with Dyar’s rule, a continuous development of the external genitalia and a
212 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
steady increase in antennal segmentation. It is now suggested that instars would be
more adequately described by a notation in which the numerical stage and
developmental pattern, when known, are both shown, as in 2/4 to indicate the
second in a four-stage sequence, thus emphasising the distinction between instars 2/4
and 2/5. Some of these stages for female C. brunneus can be diagnosed with
reasonable certainty although, as results for 1970 show, hind-femora measurements
alone may not be sufficient. Antennal segmentation of the adults records their
nymphal history and, for the last two nymphal instars, permits the identification of
3/4, 4/4, 4/5 and 5/5 individuals. Stage 3/5 may be deduced from a combination of
antennal features and the possession of pre-reversal wing-buds, although there
remains a remote possibility that this could be 3/6. Recognition of instar 2/4 among
typical 2/5 types has not been achieved, but may come about through fuller study of
the external genitalia. No means of distinguishing between instars 1/4 and 1/5 have
been found, if indeed the future developmental route is already predetermined at
hatching.
There remains the question of the significance of the naturally-occurring four-
stage females and the factors influencing their production. Any effect comparable
with phase variation would require the four-stagers to be more frequent in dense
populations, or, at least, among the offspring of such populations (Albrecht, 1955).
No attempt was made to assess the population densities of the colonies studied here,
but the low incidence of four-stagers would not have permitted valid comparison.
For non-British grasshoppers, variable instar numbers have been associated with
temperature (Parker, 1930), geographical range (Shotwell, 1941) and food (Smith,
1959). Several workers since Richards & Waloff, rearing females of C. brunneus in
captivity, have clearly indicated a four-stage nymphal development (Moriarty, 1969),
strongly implied this (Kelly-Stebbings & Hewitt, 1972) or at all events made no
comment contrary to the prevailing view, so that Hassall & Grayson (1987) regarded
their finding of five stages as abnormal. It is difficult to assign common features to
accounts of captive rearing, but fairly widely reported are an elevated laboratory
temperature, artificial irradiation, grass specially grown for food, rearing in groups
and housing in better ventilated conditions than those described here. Sometimes the
specimens have been drawn from stock maintained in captivity for several
generations. Hassall & Grayson (1987) found that second-generation laboratory-
bred females from one site passed through only four nymphal stages when the quality
of their food was reduced.
Such factors may not be the only influence, as both types of female were among
the siblings hatched in 1976 and reared under similar conditions; indeed one of each
type actually occupied the same jar throughout nymphal development. That these
were the offspring of a four-stage female might suggest a heritable effect, although
whether truly genetic or more akin to the transmission through the generations of
phase differences cannot be determined on this evidence alone. Whatever may be the
explanation for the presence of four-stage females in natural populations it would
seem that this is most likely to be provided by those encountering them routinely
during captive rearing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank the Authorities of the Royal Russell School for allowing me to
work in the school grounds, and my son, Graham A. Collins, for preparing the
histograms.
BR. J. ENT. NAT, HIST., 13: 2001
REFERENCES
Albrecht, F. O. 1955. La densité des populations et la croissance chez Schistocerca gregaria
(Forsk.) et Nomadacris septemfasciata (Sery.); la mue d’ajustement. Journal d'Agriculture
Tropicale et de Botanique Appliquée, 2: 109-192.
Collins, G. B. 1988. Cast skins of insects as subjects for microscopic study: a simple procedure
for making slides. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society, 47: 173-174.
Duarte, A. J. 1938. Problems of growth of the African Migratory Locust. Bulletin of
Entomological Research, 29: 425-456.
Dyar, H. G. 1890. The number of molts of lepidopterous larvae. Psyche, 5: 420-422.
Hassall, M. & Grayson, F. W. L. 1987. The occurrence of an additional instar in the
development of Chorthippus brunneus (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae). Journal of Natural
History, 21: 329-337.
Kelly-Stebbings, A. F. and Hewitt, G. M. 1972. The laboratory breeding of British
Gomphocerine grasshoppers (Acrididae: Orthoptera). Acrida, 1: 233-245.
Mason, J. B. 1954. Number of antennal segments in adult Acrididae (Orthoptera). Proceedings
of the Royal Entomological Society of London (B), 23: 228-238.
Moriarty, F. 1969. The laboratory breeding and embryonic development of Chorthippus
brunneus Thunberg (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological
Society of London (A), 44: 25-34.
Parker, J. R. 1930. Some effects of temperature and moisture upon Me/anoplus mexicanus
mexicanus Saussure and Camnula pellucida Scudder (Orthoptera). Bulletin of the Montana
Agricultural Experiment Station no. 223.
Richards, O. W. & Waloff, N. 1954. Studies on the biology and population dynamics of British
grasshoppers. Anti-Locust Bulletin, 17.
Shotwell, R. L. 1941. Life histories and habits of some grasshoppers of economic importance on
the Great Plains. Technical Bulletin No. 774, United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C.
Smith, D. S. 1959. Utilisation of food plants by the migratory grasshopper Me/lanoplus
bilituratus (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), with some observations on the nutritional
value of the plants. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 52: 674-680.
Uvarov, B. 1966. Grasshoppers and Locusts: A Handbook of General Acridology, Volume 1.
Cambridge University Press.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Stigmus pendulus (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) associated with ancient
woodlands in south-east London.—Since Stigmus pendulus was first discovered in
Britain by Allen (1987) it has remained rather a mystery. At the time of Falk’s review
(1991) it was known only from Allen’s original East Kent specimen and two more
from the other side of the Thames in South Essex. Published records seem few: Uffen
(1997, 1998) has recorded it twice from Hertfordshire. However, it is obviously much
more widespread and there are many more records from South Essex (P. R. Harvey.
personal communication) and Surrey (Baldock, in preparation). I was not, therefore,
too surprised to find it at several localities in the London area.
What I did find surprising, or at least ironic, is that here it seems to be associated
with ancient woodland! So far Stigmus pendulus has been found at four sites.
Sydenham Hill Woods, Dulwich (TQ3472, Surrey), 20.vi.1993, 30.viii.1993, found
by D. W. Baldock in 1997 in Malaise trap material which had been stored in alcohol
for several years. Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods are reckoned to be remains of
the “Great North Wood”, a series of oak copses and wooded commons extending
through south-east London from Selhurst to Brockley. A large number of
214 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
acknowledged ancient woodland indicator species have been recorded from the site
(Jones, in preparation).
Woodlands Farm, Bexley (TQ4476, West Kent), 9.1x.1998, a single specimen
sweeping at the edge of a large field, once arable, but which had lain fallow for about
10 years. Nearby was a patch of old oak woodland and the renowned ancient
woodland SSSI Oxleas Wood was less than a kilometre away.
Woodland Walk, Downham, (TQ3871, West Kent) 16.vi.1999, one swept.
Woodland Walk is a curious narrow wooded path, zigzagging at right angles
between the houses and gardens of the Downham estate, laid out in the 1930s. It is
recognizable on maps from the middle of the 19th century and is possibly the remains
of an old green lane following ancient hedgerows and field boundaries. Numerous
acknowledged ancient woodland “indicator” species were also found on the site
(Jones, in preparation).
Mayow Park, Lower Sydenham (TQ3571, West Kent), 9.vi.1999, one found by
sweeping. Although primarily playing fields with close-mown utility grass, this small
park is dominated by many ancient pollard oaks which predate the landscaping of
the park in 1877.
South-east London might not immediately be linked, in most people’s minds, with
ancient woodland, a scarce and vulnerable habitat, but various of the local open
spaces are obvious survivors from the era before urbanization; they contain large
mature trees and numerous ancient woodland “‘indicator” species. It is unlikely that
Stigmus pendulus has any true association with ancient woodland, and is more likely
to be generally associated with woods in general. In Surrey it is known from parks,
gardens and commons, often in company with Stigmus solskyi (D. W. Baldock, —
personal communication). It will be interesting to see, as further records of Stigmus —
pendulus appear, whether any wider association with old woodland emerges.
Acknowledgements—My thanks to David Baldock and Peter Harvey for their
information on this species —RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich,
London SE22 0AZ. bugmanjones@hotmail.com
REFERENCES
Allen, G. W. 1987. Stigmus pendulus Panzer (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) new to Britain.
Entomologist’s Gazette 38: 214.
Baldock, D. W. in preparation. Bees, wasps and ants of Surrey. Surrey Wildlife Trust.
Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain.
Peterborough: Nature Conservancy Council. p. 152.
Jones, R. A. in preparation. The insects of Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods—indicators of
ancient woodland.
Uffen, R. W. J. 1997. [Exhibit of S. pendulus from Welwyn, at BENHS meeting 8 October 1996.]
British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 10: 117.
Uffen, R. W. J. 1998. [Exhibit of S. pendulus from Tyttenhanger at BENHS Annual Exhibition
2 November 1996.] British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 10: 181.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
FUNGUS GNATS (DIPTERA: SCIAROIDEA) NEW TO BRITAIN
PETER J. CHANDLER
43 Eastfield Road, Burnham, Slough, Berks SLI 7EL
Abstract: The British fauna of the families Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae and
Mycetophilidae is updated and changes introduced in the checklist explained. Six
species of Mycetophilidae are newly described: Clastobasis loici, Sciophila caesarea,
Brevicornu rosmellitum, Mycetophila eppingensis, M. deflexa, Phronia carli (the two
latter previously misidentified as M. gratiosa Winnertz and P. longelamellata
Lundstrém respectively). A new name is also proposed for a homonym: Exechia
macula for E. maculipennis (Stannius). Dynatosoma norwegiense Zaitzev & Okland is
indicated to be thoracicum sensu Landrock of the checklist. Sciophila quadriterga
Hutson is a synonym of S. thoracica Staeger. Lectotypes are designated for
S. thoracica and Boletina sciarina Staeger. A lectotype designation for Mycetophila
bicincta Staeger is considered inappropriate. The seven species additional to the
Royal Entomological Society Handbook dealing with part of this group are figured.
New British records of 27 species are provided, one species is new for Ireland and
two species are new for the Channel Islands.
INTRODUCTION
In the recent new checklist of British Diptera (Chandler, 1998c), 17 species of
fungus gnats were listed as ‘‘added by Chandler (in preparation)” and the existence
of several undescribed species was also mentioned. One of the latter has already been
described (Chandler, 1999) and most of the others are described here: the Docosia
and Cordyla species will be dealt with elsewhere. Comment is given on the British
status of the species newly added in the checklist and also on the three species added
in Recording Scheme reports (Chandler, 1997, 1998a) and one added in an
Exhibition Report (Chandler, 1994b).
Of the species dealt with here, all of those belonging to groups covered in the
Handbook by Hutson er a/. (1980) are figured and their diagnostic characters
indicated. For the Mycetophilinae, where there is not yet a Handbook. only the new
species and one newly recorded for the Palaearctic Region are treated in this way.
Material listed is in the collection of the author or other collectors unless stated
otherwise. The Museums involved are abbreviated as follows: BMNH = Natural
History Museum, London; ETHZ = Eidgendssische Technische Hochschule, Ziirich:
NMS= National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh; OXUM = Oxford University
Museum; ZMUC = Zoological Museum of the University, Copenhagen.
DITOMYIIDAE
Symmerus nobilis Lackschewitz (Figs 1-4)
This was reported (Chandler, 1997) as a surprising addition to the British list, based
on three males from the same Scottish locality. It is easily distinguished from the
widespread species S. annulatus (Meigen, 1830), which was present at the same site, on
colour characters and the structure of the genitalia (Figs 1-4). The figure of the female
is based on a Swiss specimen and the ovipositor of S. annulatus (Fig. 5) is figured for
comparison. S. nobilis is widespread in Europe but apparently always scarce.
216 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 1-5. Genitalia of Symmerus species. 1-3, S. nobilis Lackschewitz, male: 1, tergite 9 and
cerci; 2, ventral view of gonocoxites, gonostyli and aedeagus; 3, sternite 8. 4-5, lateral view of
female genitalia: 4, S. nobilis; 5, S. annulatus (Meigen). Scale line 0.5mm.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
The two British Symmerus species can be separated as follows. The knob of the
halteres is black and the legs yellow in both species:
Males
Thorax yellowish except for three fused shining dark brown stripes on
mesoscutum, the middle stripe extending to the fore margin. Abdomen with tergites
black, sternites 1—4 yellow, rest and genitalia brown. Head dark brown; antenna with
scape and pedicel yellow but flagellum all black. Wing length 6.0—-6.1 mm
nobilis Lackschewitz
Thorax more uniformly yellowish brown with two vague broad brown lateral
stripes near wing base and median stripe absent. Abdomen with yellow basal bands
on tergites 2—7, sternites all yellow. Antenna with basal part of flagellum also yellow.
Wing length 6.2—7.3mm. annulatus (Meigen)
Females
Thorax entirely shining black on mesoscutum, pleura and mediotergite brownish
yellow. Abdomen entirely shining dark brown and ovipositor brown. Antenna as
male, scape and pedicel more brownish yellow. Wing length 7.1mm (1 Swiss
specimen). nobilis Lackschewitz
Thorax as male, but usually with shining median stripe to fore margin (reddish
brown or sometimes darker; occasionally stripes fused with only humeral area pale)
and with dark marking on lower part of laterotergite and mediotergite. Abdomen
dark brown to segment 7, but ovipositor paler, more yellowish. Antenna as male,
with flagellum yellow to flagellomeres 5—6 (or less in darker specimens).Wing length
SI 6).8) voavanke annulatus (Meigen)
British material of S. nobilis:
SCOTLAND: Inverness-shire, Glen Coiltie, around piles of fallen branches by
River Coiltie in mixed deciduous woodland, 3 males: 21.vii., 23.vii and 24.vii.1997
(Chandler, 1 male in NMS).
KEROPLATIDAE
Orfelia bicolor (Macquart) (Figs 6-8)
This species was recorded as British by Chandler (1992a), who figured the
Ovipositor, based on a single female from Magor Marsh, Gwent in Wales. One male
has now been found in Britain, from which the genitalia are figured (Figs 6-8). This
was obtained from a forested site, which is more typical of the habitats in which
O. bicolor has been recorded in Europe.
As in the case of the female, it does not fit either of the alternatives in couplet | of
the key to the genus by Hutson et a/. (1980), since the thorax is dark dorsally while
the pleura, a narrow humeral area and the apical margin of the scutellum are
yellowish; the mediotergite is darker yellowish. The abdominal tergites 24 and 6 are
yellow on the apical half (or more on tergite 2), tergite 5 is dark and the genitalia are
brown. The gonostylus is single in common only with nemoralis (Meigen) and pallida
(Staeger) among British Orfelia species, but differs from them in its simple narrow
and apically flattened form. Wing length of this specimen 3.2 mm.
British male material of O. bicolor:
ENGLAND: Bucks, Burnham Beeches, Malaise trap, 20.vii—2.viii.1995, 1 male (J.W.
Ismay; in author’s collection).
218 BR. J. ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 6-8. Male genitalia of Orfelia bicolor (Macquart). 6, ventral view of gonocoxites, gonostyli
and aedeagus; 7, cerci; 8, tergite 9. Scale line 0.2 mm.
MYCETOPHILIDAE
Gnoristinae
The Boletina sciarina Staeger Group
Zaitzev & Polevoi (1995) described four new species of the B. sciarina Staeger
group from Russian Karelia and two of these, B. minuta and B. populina, have now
been found to occur in Britain. In the case of B. minuta, I had previously confused it
with B. moravica Lundstr6m which is an uncommon but widespread species in
Britain. All of the species from couplet 16 onwards in the key by Hutson ef al. (1980)
belong to this group, which have the laterotergite (““pleurotergites” in the key) bare,
the costa extended well beyond the tip of vein R., the antennal flagellum all dark and
the hind coxa partly or entirely yellow.
With these additions, there are eleven British species which are reliably separated
only on the structure of the male genitalia; all species are small, wing length less than
4mm, black bodied with mainly yellow legs. Most species of the group, apart from
the very common B. gripha Dziedzicki and the frequent B. trispinosa Edwards, have
the coxae entirely yellow but these two additions may have the coxae entirely yellow
or slightly darkened basally.
B. sciarina was the earliest described species of this group (Staeger, 1840), of which
B. gripha Dziedzicki is the commonest species and present interpretation follows
Dziedzicki (1885), who described several other related species, so it is important to
establish its identity. Staeger did not state how many specimens he described it from,
but mentioned both sexes and gave a size range and flight period. Edwards (1924)
only said of Staeger’s types “the series includes some B. sciarina in Dziedzicki’s sense
and also some B. gripha Dz.” I have examined Staeger’s material (ZMUC), which
comprises 12 males and 3 females, all assumed to be syntypes. One male is labelled
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
“Ordr. [=Ordrup, near Copenhagen] St.”’ and one female is labelled “St.”; other
specimens are unlabelled but all presumably Danish. The males include 6 B. gripha
(including the labelled specimen), | B. /undstroemi Landrock, | B. populina, 3 with
abdomens partly missing so undeterminable and | B. sciarina sensu Dziedzicki. |
have labelled the last specimen as lectotype to maintain established usage.
Boletina minuta Polevoi in Zaitzey & Polevoi (Figs 9-12)
B. minuta 1s most readily recognised by the structure of the distal margin of the
gonocoxites, which bear a long curved medial process with a simple rounded lobe
and a shorter setose lobe lateral to it. It also differs from B. sciarina in the short blunt
ended parameres (Figs 10-11).
The types were collected in a birch (Betu/a) and aspen (Populus) stand. The British
material is from diverse deciduous woodland sites. I also have a male collected in
conifer forest in Poland, Cisna, 20.ix.1991 (A.E. Stubbs). Wing length of material
examined 3.2—3.5mm.
British material of B. minuta
ENGLAND: Berks, Newbury, Greenham Common, 20.iv.1974, 1 male (D.M.
Ackland, in author’s collection); Berks, Windsor Forest, 10.v.1978, 1 male
(Chandler). SCOTLAND: Aberdeenshire, Morrone Birkwood, 31.v.1998, 4 males
(Chandler and I. Perry).
Boletina populina Polevoi in Zaitzey & Polevoi (Figs 13-14)
This species, reported as British by Chandler (1998a), most closely resembles
B. sciarina, agreeing with it in the form of the gonostylus, the pointed triangular
medial process of the gonocoxites and narrow pointed parameres (Fig. 13). It differs
in the parameres being shorter and strongly curved apically and in the more
numerous rows of small spines on the cerci (Fig. 14). Wing length of material
examined 3.2 mm.
The holotype was from an aspen (Populus tremula) stand; the Perthshire site is a
gorge with mixed deciduous woodland, while the Aberdeenshire site is open birch
(Betula) and juniper (Juniperus) woodland, rich in bryophytes, and the visit on which
it and B. minuta were found was notable for producing 10 species of Boletina
including six members of the sciarina group.
British material of B. populina
SCOTLAND: Perthshire, Pass of Killiecrankie, 25.vi.1997, 1 male (I. Perry):
Aberdeenshire, Morrone Birkwood, 31.v.1998, 3 males (Chandler and Perry).
Leiinae
Genus Clastobasis Skuse
This is a genus new to the British Isles, which runs in the keys by Hutson e7 al.
(1980) to Leia Meigen and most species of both genera are mainly yellow in colour. It
agrees with most of the characters listed for Leia, except for vein sc-r (Sc, in the key)
being absent and the wings being clear yellowish without any marking; at least a
subapical wing band is usually present in British species of Leia. It also differs in the
220 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 9-14. Male genitalia of Boletina species. 9-12, B. minuta Polevoi: 9, ventral view of
gonocoxites and gonostylus; 10-11, aedeagus and parameres, dorsal and lateral views; 12,
tergite 9 and cerci. 13-14, B. populina Polevoi: 13, ventral view of gonocoxites and gonostyli
with aedeagus and parameres in situ; 14, tergite 9 and cerci. Scale line 0.25 mm (minuta), 0.2 mm
(populina).
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13; 2001
lateral ocelli being closer to the eye margins and the branches of the median fork at
least slightly convergent apically, M, being downturned apically. Most species of the
genus, which is rich in species in the tropics, have annulated antennae, which are
yellow with each flagellomere brown apically, a character not found in Leia.
The widespread European species C. alternans (Winnertz, 1863) is now known
from southern England and a second species, here described as new, has been found
on Jersey, Channel Islands. Although these species are of similar appearance, their
genitalia are very different.
Clastobasis alternans (Winnertz) (Figs 15-17, 21, 23)
C. alternans has been found at six localities in England north to Yorkshire in
recent years, mostly at wooded fen or carr woodland sites with an anomalous record
from Buckingham Palace Gardens where the only wetland vegetation is a narrow
strip at the margin of the lake.
This species is predominantly yellow, with dark antennal and abdominal markings
(Fig. 23). All flagellomeres are dark apically, this colour occupying progressively
more of the length until the last flagellomere is nearly all dark. The abdomen has
dark bands on the apical third to half of tergites 1-5, these bands narrowed medially
on 1-4 but broadly extended to the base dorsally on tergite 5, with a slight dark
patch at the base of tergite 6. The head has a dark patch internal to each lateral
ocellus. Genitalia Figs 15-17 (male), 21 (female). The wing length of material
examined is 4.2-4.4mm (male) and 4.44.7 mm (female).
British material of C. alternans
ENGLAND: Middlesex, Buckingham Palace Gardens, Malaise trap catch till
7.vu1.1995, 1 male (via C. Plant); Gloucs, Coombe Hill Canal SSSI, 21.v.1994 (C.M.
Drake); Cambs, Osier Lake, Godmanchester, late vili.1998, numerous in Salix carr
(J.H. Cole); Cambs, Paradise, 19.vii.1998, 1 male (I. Perry); Norfolk, Wheatfen
Broad, 10.vii.1993, 1 male (I. Perry); Yorks, Wheldrake Ings, 17.vii.1996, numerous
in hedges by water meadows (Chandler and others, some deposited in NMS).
Clastobasis loici sp. n. (Figs 18-20, 22)
Male. Mainly yellow with dark annulations on antenna and dark abdominal
markings. Head yellow, more brownish on frons, with a black patch internal to each
lateral ocellus. Antenna longer than mesoscutum; yellow with a dark apical marking
on each flagellomere, increasing in extent on basal flagellomeres, occupying apical
half of flagellomeres 9-13 and apical two thirds of elongate apical flagellomere.
Palpus slender, yellow.
Thorax yellow except for shining brown disc of mediotergite. Thoracic hairs and
setae yellowish to brown. Scutum with short yellow hairs on disc, strong marginal,
postalar and prescutellar setae; prothorax with strong lateral setae and 4 strong
downturned proepisternals; laterotergite with long fine yellow setae; 2 pairs strong
scutellars.
Legs entirely yellow including long slender tibial spurs (1:2:2). Tibia 2 with 6
strong anterior setae (becoming anterodorsal on apical half), 5 strong poster-
odorsals, a weaker seta basal to each of these series and 2 weak setae in gap between
last 2 posterodorsals; several short anteroventrals and posteroventrals and a
complete series of shorter posterior setae. Tibia 3 with 8 stronger anterodorsals, with
in)
tN
to
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 15-20. Male genitalia of Clastobasis species. 15-17, C. alternans (Winnertz): 15, ventral
view; 16, gonostylus; 17, lateral view. 18-20, C. loici sp. n.: 18, ventral view; 19, gonostylus; 20,
lateral view. Scale line 0.2 mm.
several shorter intervening setae; 6 strong posterodorsals; shorter anteroventral,
posteroventral and posterior series as on tibia 2.
Wing clear yellowish, with all veins yellow and setulose except short Rs which is
bare. Crossvein r-m a little longer than stem of median fork. Vein M, distinctly
upturned apically and strongly convergent with M, which is downturned apically.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Posterior fork with anterior branch slightly interrupted at base. Costa ends at tip of
R, before wing tip. Haltere yellow.
Abdomen mainly yellow with apical (medially narrowed) brown band on tergites
1-4, tergite 5 with the brown band extended towards fore margin medially: tergite 6
with brown basal band. Sternites yellow, with brown markings laterally on sternites
5-6. Genitalia (Figs 18-20) yellow with appendages brown; gonostylus broad
basally, with slender blunt ended apical process.
Wing length 3.6-3.8 mm.
Female. Very similar to male, but antenna relatively shorter, distinctly shorter
than mesoscutum. Abdomen with tergites 1-5 with a narrow apical brown band;
sternites 6-7 sometimes with a brown patch laterally. Ovipositor (Fig. 22) yellow.
Wing length 4.3-4.4mm.
Holotype male, SWITZERLAND, Ticino, Bolle di Magadino, 16—20.vi.1995, B.
Merz & G. Bachli, deposited in ETHZ.
Paratypes: | male, data as holotype; 3 males, | female, JERSEY, La Mielle de
Morville, Malaise trap catch till 16.x.1993; 6 males, JERSEY, Waterworks Valley, St
Laurence, Malaise trap catches till 21.vii.1993; 2 males, 1 female, till 28.viii.1994; 1
male, till 8.x.1994 (all A. Warne, in author’s collection and pairs deposited in BMNH
and NMS).
Other material: 1 male, CZECH REPUBLIC, N. Moravia, Olomouc-Cernovir, |—2.
vii.1958, P. Lauterer, MNHN.
Etymology. Named for the late Loic Matile to acknowledge his contribution to
knowledge of the Afrotropical fauna of fungus gnats.
Figs 21-22. Female genitalia of Clastobasis species, lateral view. 21, C. alternans (Winnertz): 22.
C. loici sp. n.. Scale line 0.2 mm.
in)
to
-
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
23 | yy
\}
Fig. 23. Male of Clastobasis alternans (Winnertz), lateral view.
Discussion. This species was referred to as an undescribed species in the Swiss
checklist (Chandler, 1998b) and its presence in the Czech Republic had been
recognised by Petr LaStovka.
C. loici bears some resemblance in ventral view of its genital structure to the
eastern Palaearctic species C. gussakowskii Zaitzev (1994) but a figure of
gussakowskii in lateral view; forwarded by A.J. Zaitzev shows clear differences,
especially in the form of the gonostylus which is broader with a short apical process
without the slender neck.
C. loici is also very similar except in genital structure to C. alternans. The antennal
flagellum has narrower brown bands, not increasing as much in extent on the apical
flagellomeres, all of which are clear yellow basally. The wing venation differs in
crossvein r-m being relatively shorter, not much longer than the stem of the median
fork and the veins of the fork are more strongly convergent apically.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 225
Sciophilinae
Sciophila Meigen
Additions reported here bring the total of British species of Sciophila to 21: a
further species collected in Scotland by Ivan Perry awaits description by Alexei
Polevoi. As indicated by Hutson et al. (1980) there are few reliable external
characters for species recognition in this genus, colour characters being variable and
structure uniform, so most species can be identified only from male genitalia. Since
their work, S. antigua Chandler had been added (Chandler, 1987b) and S. haltica
Zaitzev was reported from Britain on one male by Chandler (1998a).
Some further specimens of S. ba/tica were unrecognised under S. hirta Meigen in
both the Natural History Museum, London and my own collection. It can be
confused with hirta due to the similar form of tergite 9, although this is relatively
shorter and the unique keyhole-like gonocoxal structure can be seen without removal!
of the tergite.
It has now been realised that another species has consistently been confused under
S. hirta in collections. I first recognised that material from Spain (Zaragoza,
Monegros) differed in some respects of its male genitalia from typical hirta and then
that the same form occurred in Britain; re-examination of the lectotype of
S. parviareolata Santos Abreu, 1920, which was synonymised with hirta by Zaitzev
(1982a), has confirmed the suspicion that this represented the second species. As the
type of hirta is evidently lost, the name is reserved for the species figured by Hutson
et al. (1980), which is the commoner species in Britain, and parviareolata is therefore
available for the second species. All material identified as hirta will need to be
checked.
An undescribed Sciophila belonging to the /utea Macquart group occurs in the
Channel Islands and has been found in other parts of western Europe. This will be
described elsewhere (Chandler & Blasco-Zumeta, in press).
Sciophila hirta Meigen and S. parviareolata Santos Abreu (Figs 24—29)
These species appear to be inseparable on external characters, both being small
and mainly dark coloured with the sides of the thorax including the humeral areas
more or less obscurely reddish or yellowish; the legs are yellow with a dark tip to the
hind femur more or less apparent, although often vague, resulting in /hirta being
included in two sections of the key by Hutson ef a/. (1980); the antennae are dark
with only the first flagellomere sometimes paler.
The figures of the male genitalia (Figs 24-29) show that they are similar in most
respects, but draw attention to the points of difference: tergite 9 more evenly rounded
apically in hirta (Fig. 26), more angular in parviareolata (Fig. 29); gonostylus with
long macrochaetae on internal lobe usually longer and more numerous in /irta (27
29) (Fig. 25), often fewer (21—25) in parviareolata (Fig. 28), but some specimens with
as many as in hirta; distal process of gonocoxal apodeme often broader laterally and
tapered apically in hirta (Fig. 24, a), but more straight sided and blunt in
parviareolata (Fig. 27, a); median sternal process between ventral lobes of
gonocoxites with apical half narrow but slightly broadened and blunt apically in
hirta (Fig. 24, b) while it is broad and bifurcate apically in parviareolata (Fig. 27, b).
The last mentioned character is considered diagnostic while other characters may
vary independently. The wing length of material examined is 3.3—3.8 mm (/irta) and
2.8-3.7mm (British material of parviareolata; Spanish males 2.1 and 2.8mm,
lectotype 3.0mm).
226 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 24-29. Male genitalia of Sciophila species. 24-26, S. hirta Meigen: 24, dorsal view with
tergite 9 removed; 25, gonostylus, internal view; 26, tergite 9. 27-29, S. parviareolata Santos
Abreu: 27, dorsal view with tergite 9 removed; 28, gonostylus, internal view; 29, tergite 9. Scale
line 0.2mm (hirta), 0.25 mm (parviareolata).
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Most British records of parviareolata are of specimens taken indoors and the
only recent records are those from Buckingham Palace Gardens. No rearing
records can be assigned to this species. In addition to 13 British males, material
from mainland Spain, Portugal and the holotype from the Canary Islands have
been examined.
‘Of the British material re-examined in this study, 33 males are confirmed to
be hirta. These are from ENGLAND: Kent, Surrey, Hants, Bucks, Oxon, Herts,
Essex, Cambs, Worcs, Hereford, Cheshire, WALES: Merioneth and SCOT-
LAND: Midlothian and Inverness-shire (Aviemore), i.e. most counties listed by
Hutson ef al. (1980). This includes material reared from Collyhia maculata,
Inonotus hispidus, Trametes versicolor, Bulgaria polymorpha, Auricularia auricula-
jJudae and a blackbird’s nest. Other specimens, both reared by F.W. Edwards
were labelled as from a “brownish larva on Stereum ? stramineum on spruce
stump” (Hitchin, Herts) and “chocolate brown larva under decaying branch”
(Madingley, Cambs).
British material of S. parviareolata (all records refer to single males):
ENGLAND: Middlesex, Buckingham Palace Gardens, Malaise trap, 12
24.vili.1995, 22.ix—-30.x.1995 (via C. Plant, in author’s collection); Middlesex,
BMNH, 24.ix.1915 (F.W. Edwards, BMNH); Oxon, Oxford, 14.iii.1936 (O.W.
Richards, BMNH); Cambs, Newmarket, Sussex Lodge, 8.v.1886, 18.iv.1887,
29.iv.1889 (BMNH), 6.vi.1887, 30.viii.1889 (OXUM) (G.H. Verrall); Newmarket.
Raylands, on window, 7.v.1931, 8.vii.1931 (J.E. Collin, OXUM); SCOTLAND:
Midlothian, Edinburgh, NMS, on window, 13.x.1920 (P.H. Grimshaw, NMS):
Perthshire, Blairgowrie, 23.v.1908 (A.E.J. Carter, OXUM).
Sciophila baltica Zaitzey (Figs 32-34)
This species runs to couplet 8 in the key by Hutson er a/. (1980) but the character
used in that couplet of the position of sc-r (Sc, in the key) is not reliable as it is just
before (The Coombe) or just beyond (New Forest) the base of Rs in specimens of
baltica and similar variation occurs in hirta and parviareolata, where it may be before
or in line with Rs. The antennal flagellum is either all dark or the first flagellomere
yellowish. The thorax is broadly yellow to reddish on the humeral area and on the
pleura; it is otherwise dark brown dorsally, with the scutellum, mediotergite and
abdomen dark. The legs are yellow. The wing length is 2.7-3.4mm in material
examined.
The male genitalia (Figs 32-34) are distinctive. Tergite 9 (Fig. 34) is rounded
apically as in the above species but shorter and bearing long marginal setae. The
gonocoxites (Fig. 32) have broad dorsal lobes with a semicircular internal
excavation, unlike any other known Sciophila species. The sites where I have found
S. baltica are all ancient beech (Fagus) woodland.
British material of S. baltica:
ENGLAND: Hants, New Forest, The Knowles, 8.vi.1986, 1 male; New Forest.
Wood Crates, 8.vi.1986, 1 male; Bucks, Ashridge Estate, The Coombe, 17.vi.1997, |
male (all Chandler); Wilts, Wilton, 4.vii.1974, 1 male (C.H. Andrewes, BMNH).
228 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Sciophila caesarea sp. n. (Figs 30-31)
Male. A mainly shining black species, with yellow legs. Antenna longer than head
and thorax together, with scape, pedicel and first two flagellomeres brownish yellow,
rest brown; flagellomeres 2.5 x long as broad. Palpus brownish yellow.
Thorax shining black with pale yellowish humeral areas and prothorax brownish
yellow; all setae yellow. Anepisternum with short pale setae, laterotergite with long
pale setae. Scutellum with long yellow setae on disc and margin.
Figs 30-34. Male genitalia of Sciophila species. 30-31, S. caesarea sp. n.: 30, dorsal view with
tergite 9 in situ; 31, gonostylus, internal view. 32-34, S. baltica Zaitzev: 32, dorsal view with
tergite 9 removed; 33, gonostylus; 34, tergite 9. Scale line 0.25mm.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 229
Legs yellow, trochanters dark, tarsi more brownish. Hind femur dark on apical!
sixth. Femora with yellow hairs, tibiae with brown setulae, scattered darker setae are
shorter than tibial width. Tibia | with 4 posteroventral setae on apical half; tibia 2
with 5 anterodorsal, 1 posterodorsal at apical third, 2 posterior setae near tip, 3 short
posteroventrals on apical half; tibia 3 with 4—6 anterior, 4 anterodorsal and 4-6
dorsal setae.
Wing colourless with veins yellow; a uniform covering of microtrichia and
macrotrichia over most of surface. Vein sc-r at junction with Rs, R, close to Rs
forming small radial cell shorter than broad. Stem of median fork a little shorter than
crossvein r-m. Posterior fork begins opposite level of tip of Sc. Fork veins reach
margin. Costa exceeds tip of R; by nearly a third distance to M,. Haltere clear yellow.
Abdomen shining black with yellow setae. Genitalia (Figs 30-31) dark brown.
Tergite 9 (in situ in Fig. 30) is short elongate, with a blunt apex bearing a small
median protuberance. Gonostylus (Fig. 31) with rounded apical and short tapered
ventral lobe, bearing long marginal setae, medially with internal lobes bearing a
group of long apical flattened macrochaetae.
Wing length 2.7 (holotype) —2.9mm (paratype).
Female. Not recognised.
Holotype male, Channel Islands, JERSEY, Heatherview, St. Ouen, 15.viii.1991,
A. Warne, deposited in NMS.
Paratype male, ENGLAND, Northants, Buckingham Thick Copse, trap A2,
9.vi.1992, A. Warne, in author’s collection.
Etymology. The specific name refers to the Roman name of the island of Jersey,
from which the modern name is derived, and is a noun in apposition.
Discussion. Although the two specimens were from the same collector, they were
included in samples in accord with other material from the two areas so there is little
likelihood of either being mislabelled.
S. caesarea runs to S. nonnisilva Hutson in the key by Hutson ef a/. (1980) except in
the body not being all black. In the Holarctic fauna, its genital structure most closely
resembles that of the Nearctic S. laffooni Zaitzev (Zaitzev, 1982a), especially in the
form of the gonostylus; the gonocoxites are also similar and tergite 9 is short and
tapered apically but broader.
Sciophila thoracica Staeger
Sciophila thoracica Staeger, 1840
Sciophila quadriterga Hutson, 1979, syn. n.
S. thoracica Staeger (1840) was not identified in the revision of the genus by
Zaitzev (1982a), who was unable to see the type material although he noted that a
Russian specimen determined as thoracica by Stackelberg was guadriterga Hutson.
Edwards (1924) studied Staeger’s types and mentioned that thoracica had a
distinctive structure to the male genitalia. During a recent visit to Copenhagen
(ZMUC), I found these syntypes (two males and a female) to be as described by
Edwards. Both males were S. quadriterga; one of them, of which the genitalia had
been mounted on a microscope slide, had been labelled as lectotype by Pakarinen but
this has not been published. I have labelled the same specimen as lectotype, which is
established here. The second male was that referred to as var. b (with thoracic stripes
present) by Staeger.
Mycetophilinae
Here British distribution is summarised except for new or scarce species.
230 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Allodia (Allodia) embla Hackman
Males can be determined from the genitalia figures in Hackman (1971). It was
thought to be a boreal species and most British records (now 30 sites) are from
SCOTLAND: East Ross, Nairn, Inverness-shire and WALES: Glamorgan, Radnor,
Cardigan, Montgomery. Records from ENGLAND relate to Shropshire, Westmor-
land, Suffolk and ten wetland sites in Norfolk. The records from Wales and East
Anglia result from surveys by the former NCC.
Allodia (Allodia) zaitzevi Kurina
This species was recorded from Ireland by Chandler (1987a) as pyxidiiformis
Zaitzev, 1983. It is also common in Britain, having previously been confused with
A. ornaticollis (Meigen). Kurina (1998) showed that the type series of pyxidiiformis
included two species and the holotype was not the same species figured by Zaitzev
(1983), which he described as zaitzevi to which British Isles material belongs. It has
been examined from throughout Britain north to Sutherland.
Allodia (Brachycampta) protenta LaStovka & Matile
Lastovka & Matile (1974) figured the male genitalia. This was trapped in 1988 on
the NCC wetland surveys at three sites in WALES: Anglesey (wet meadows) and ten
sites in ENGLAND: Norfolk, eight sites (including reedbeds and carr woodland);
Suffolk, Walberswick and Cambs, Chippenham Fen. It was also obtained in 1989 ina
Malaise trap at Cromle y Veddy (SC300857), ISLE OF MAN (S.M. Crellin).
Allodia (Brachycampta) westerholti Caspers
Caspers (1980) figured the male genitalia; the name retracta Plassmann, 1977 was
used for it for a time following Caspers & Plassmann (1986) but this has now been
corrected (Caspers, 1996). The British sites are broad-leaved woodland, mainly beech
(Fagus) on chalk or limestone:
ENGLAND: Surrey, Box Hill, 11.vi.1992, 1 male (Chandler); Gloucs, Workman’s
Wood NNR, 11.x.1979, 1 male (I.F.G. McLean); Gloucs, Chedworth, 12.x.1979, 1
male (A.E. Stubbs).
Allodiopsis korolevi Zaitzev
This was figured by Zaitzev (1982b) from Russia. The British site is a small area of
mixed woodland, including conifer plantations. Remarkably Mycetophila stricklandi
(Laffoon) (see below) was found there two days later on a visit to follow up the find
of A. korolevi.
British material of A. korolevi:
ENGLAND: North Yorks, Boltby, Spring Wood, 17.vii.1996, 1 male (A.E. Stubbs).
Brevicornu arcticoides Caspers
The male genitalia were figured by Caspers (1985). Emley (1992) recorded it as
arcticoides from Staffordshire, but Chandler (1998c) suggested synonymy of this with
fasciculatum WLackschewitz (1937). However, Chandler (2000) confirmed that
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
arcticoides was a good species, based on the findings of Alexei Polevoi that
fasciculatum was not conspecific. The British sites are more or less wooded.
British material of B. arcticoides:
ENGLAND: Norfolk, Sutton Broad, water traps, 21.vili-4.1x.1989, 1 male; vii.1990,
1 male (A. Foster & D. Procter); Staffs, Sandwell Valley, Malaise trap, vii.1988, |
male (M.G. Bloxham).
Brevicornu glandis Lastevka & Matile
The male genitalia were figured by LaStovka & Matile (1974). This is another
species added by the NCC wetland surveys and was found at 20 sites in ENGLAND:
Berks, Oxon, Norfolk and WALES: Anglesey. It was also found in IRELAND ina
survey of the Burren Grikes, County Clare (Chandler ef a/., 2000).
Brevicornu intermedium (Santos Abreu)
This is a frequent species which had previously been confused with B. fissicauda
(Lundstré6m), which is also frequent. Zaitzev (1985) figured it as hissaricum Zaitzey,
but this was synonymised by Chandler (1994a) and Chandler & Ribeiro (1995). Both
species have sternite 8 forked apically and the gonostylus very similar. They are best
separated by the sternal process between the ventral lobes of the gonocoxites, deeply
bifurcate with long pointed lobes in intermedium but only narrowly divided into
short rounded lobes in fissicauda. Material examined is from southern ENGLAND:
Berks, Middlesex, Cornwall, Norfolk and WALES: Anglesey.
Brevicornu rosmellitum sp. n. (Figs 35-36)
Brevicornu nigrofuscum: Zaitzev, 1988, misidentification, not (Lundstrém, 1909)
Male. Head grey dusted. Antenna brownish yellow basally, flagellum dark.
Thorax grey dusted with yellowish decumbent setae on mesoscutum, the larger
marginal and postalar setae darker; | pair of strong dark scutellars; 3-4
proepisternals; long yellow to brown setae on laterotergite.
Legs yellow. Tibia 2 with 7 anterior, 3 posterodorsal and 4 posterior setae. Tibia 3
with 7-8 anterodorsal, 4-5 posterodorsal and 5 posterior (on apical half) setae.
Wing clear yellowish, radial veins darker. Crossvein r-m two thirds length of stem
of median fork. Posterior fork begins just basad of base of median stem.
Abdomen mainly grey dusted. Tergites 24 with yellow lateral patch occupying
about half height of tergite. Genitalia (Figs 35-36) yellow.
Wing length 2.4-2.6 mm.
Holotype male, ENGLAND, Oxon, Waterperry Wood, at honey-dew, 12.x.1968
(J. Brock, Liverpool Museum).
Paratypes: 4 males, data as holotype (J. Brock, Liverpool Museum); | male,
ENGLAND, Oxon, Waterperry Common, 29.ix.1968, (J. Brock, in author's
collection).
Etymology. The specific name is an adjective indicating association with honey-
dew.
Discussion. Zaitzev (1988) figured this species, which he recorded from USA and
Canada, and identified as nigrofuscum. The British species figured by Edwards (1925)
232 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Figs 35-36. Male genitalia of Brevicornu rosmellitum sp. n. 35, ventral view of gonocoxites and
gonostylus; 36, internal view of right gonostylus. Scale line 0.2 mm.
is, however, not conspecific but more likely to be nigrofuscum of Lundstrém (1909).
Zaitzev’s species has been found in Britain and is here described as new.
Exechia bicincta (Staeger)
The interpretation of this name follows Edwards (1924), who examined Staeger’s
types (ZMUC). These comprise two specimens, labelled respectively as male and
female and the usage is based on the first of these. Edwards proposed the name
dizona for bicincta sensu Lundstr6m (1909). He evidently did not examine the
“female” specimen as I have found this to be a male of E. dizona. Unfortunately,
Staeger’s description refers only to the female and his “male” must have been added
later, so the dizona male is more likely to be the type. As this cannot be certain, I
have not selected a lectotype in order to maintain current usage.
Exechia chandleri Caspers
The male genitalia were figured by Caspers (1987). It has been found at several
wooded and wetland sites in southern England.
British material of E. chandleri (1 male at each site):
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
ENGLAND: Bucks, Burnham Beeches, Malaise trap in bog, 20.vil—2.vil.1995 (J.W.
Ismay); Oxon, Weston Green Fen, vii—viii.1987 and Chimney Meadows Ditch, ix
x.1991 (Malaise traps, K. Porter); Northants, Buckingham Thick Copse, 6.ix.199]
(A. Warne); Somerset, Priddy Pools, 16.x.1986 (A.E. Stubbs); Essex, Epping Forest,
Monument Field, Malaise trap, 21.viii.1998 (J. Dagley).
Exechia cincinnata Johannsen (Figs 37-39)
This species was described from North America (USA, New England) and this is
the first record for the Palaearctic. Johannsen (1912) figured the male genitalia,
showing the series of bent setae on the gonocoxites. The British specimen was
compared with Nearctic material which I collected a few weeks previously, in broad-
leaved and mixed forest. The British site is dry broad-leaved woodland dominated by
beech (Fagus).
E. cincinnata is brightly coloured. The thorax is brownish yellow, more yellowish on
the sides of the mesoscutum. The abdomen has large yellow markings: sides of tergite
1; most of 2-3, which have a narrow dark stripe medially, broadened narrowly on fore
margin and as a triangular area on posterior half; 4 has a yellow lateral spot on basal
half in British male, absent in Nearctic specimens (although present in Johannsen’s
types). The male genitalia (Figs 37-39) are yellow and very distinctive in structure:
cerci strap shaped with dense short setae apically; gonostylus with 2 narrow lobes, the
Figs 37-39. Male genitalia of Exechia cincinnata Johannsen. 37, ventral view: 38, internal view
of gonostylus; 39, tergite 9 and cerci.
234 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
outer with strong erect external setae; gonocoxites with close set bent setae on distal
margins, the medial and lateral strongest. Wing length 2.6-3.0 mm.
Nearctic material examined of E. cincinnata:
CANADA: Ontario, Manitoulin, Killarney State Park, 31.viii.1994, 1 male; USA:
Michigan, Ottawa National Forest, Sylvania Wilderness, ancient maple forest,
3.1x.1994, 2 males; USA: Wisconsin, Rib Mountain State Forest, 4.1x.1994, 1 male
(Chandler).
British material of E. cincinnata:
WALES: Denbigh, Loggerheads Country Park, 14.x.1994, 1 male (Chandler).
Exechia cincta Winnertz
The male genitalia were figured by Dziedzicki (1915); the ovipositor was figured by
Chandler (1977) from a French specimen. E. cincta has been found at a dozen sites
scattered across southern ENGLAND: Cornwall, Devon, Hants, Berks, Surrey,
Hereford, Worcs and South WALES: Cardigan.
Exechia macula nom. n.
Mycetophila maculipennis Stannius, 1831, not Say, 1824 [= Leia winthemii Lehmann,
1822]
Exechia maculipennis (Stannius, 1831)
As indicated by Chandler (1998c) maculipennis Stannius is a junior primary
homonym. The replacement name proposed here is a noun in apposition (=spot,
referring to the small faint median wing spot across the basal third of the median
fork, absent in other British Exechia species). Identification of this species is based on
the genitalia figures by Dziedzicki (1915).
British material of E. macula:
ENGLAND: Norfolk, Bure Marshes, Woodbastwick, water trap, 17—31.vii.1989, 1
male (A. Foster and D. Procter).
Exechia pectinivalva Stackelberg
Stackelberg (1948) figured the male genitalia. It was found at 43 sites in WALES
(all vice-counties except Monmouth and Flint), mostly blanket or raised bog and
valley fens, by the NCC wetland survey. There are also a few records from similar
sites in ENGLAND: Shropshire and Cumbria, an old record for Crowborough,
Sussex (1916) and one record from SCOTLAND: Perthshire, Black Wood of
Rannoch (1987).
Exechia repandoides Caspers
This species is closely related to E. repanda Johannsen, differing most obviously in
the shorter blunt outer lobe of the gonostylus. Caspers (1984) figured the male
genitalia. It has been found at several scattered broad-leaved woodland and carr sites
in southern ENGLAND: Oxon, Gloucs, Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk.
BR, J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 234
Exechiopsis (Xenexechia) membranacea (Lundstrom)
The male genitalia were figured by Caspers (1984). It had previously been confused
with the frequent EZ. /eptura (Meigen) and separation of females of these species is
still uncertain. &. membranacea has been recorded at a dozen sites, both woods and
wetlands, in southern ENGLAND: Somerset, Wilts, Hants, Herts, Berks, Oxon,
Bucks, Hunts and Leics.
Dynatosoma nigromaculatum Lundstrom
Chandler (2000) corrected the suggestion by Chandler (1998c) that this species was
a synonym of D. abdominale (Staeger, 1840). Sevcik (in press) has shown that there
are small differences in the medial part of the gonostylus between these species and
D. schachti Plassmann (1999), which also has very similar genital structure
Dynatosoma norwegiense Zaitzey & Okland
Dynatosoma thoracicum: Landrock, 1930, not (Zetterstedt, 1838)
This species was recorded by Chandler (1994b) on specimens from Bucklebury
Common, Berks. It was obvious that the figures by Landrock (1930) represented it,
but did not correspond to thoracicum (Zetterstedt, 1838) as figured by Zaitzev (1986),
whose identification was confirmed by Kallweit (1990), who examined Zetterstedt’s
type. Zaitzev & Okland (1994) described norwegiense from Norwegian material and
did not mention Landrock’s paper, but it is considered from comparison of British
material with their figures that they are conspecific although the mesoscutum is
described as yellowish brown with two indistinct dark stripes while British material
has it uniformly orange brown. The synonymy of this group of the genus is, however.
uncertain and the identity of three other Zetterstedt names requires clarification.
Sevcik (in press) records norwegiense from Slovakia and there is a male in BMNH
from Austria, labelled “‘“Hochobir, Car. Mader” (no collector or date).
British material of D. norwegiense:
ENGLAND: Berks, Bucklebury Common, 12.vii.1989, 1 male (A.E. Stubbs) and
6.v1.1993, 1 female (Chandler); Berks, Windsor Forest, 15.viii.1994, Malaise trap, |
female (via J. Brock); Herts, Ashridge Estate, 8.vii.1999, 3 males (Chandler); Hants,
New Forest, The Knowles, 16.vii.1995, 1 female and Denny Wood, 9.vii.1998, | male
(I. Perry).
Mycetophila deflexa sp. n.
Mycetophila gratiosa: Chandler, 1988, misidentification, not Winnertz, 1863
Male. Head dark brown, grey dusted. Antenna brownish yellow to basal half of
first flagellomere, rest brown; flagellomeres about twice as long as broad. Palpus
yellowish brown.
Thorax shining dark brown with narrow yellow humeral area on each side and
yellow prothoracic spiracular area. Decumbent mesoscutal and anepisternal setae
yellow, stronger marginal setae including postalar, prescutellar, 2 pairs of strong
scutellars and strong setae on prothorax dark brown; shorter brown setae on
posterior part of anepisternum, upper margin of anepimeron and on laterotergite.
236 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Legs yellow, with femur 3 narrowly brown apically. Tibia 2 with 3 anterior, 1
anterodorsal (beyond anterior setae), 4 dorsal, 2 short posterior (near tip) and 3 long
ventral setae. Tibia 3 with 7 anterior (4th to 6th setae progressively shorter), 0
anterodorsal and 5 dorsal (without shorter interspersed setae) setae. Tibia 2 with first
two rows and tibia 3 with first anterior row of setulae (adjacent to anterior setae)
dark brown, the rest on 3 mainly yellowish with the second row only brown on the
apical third.
Wing yellowish with two more or less strong brown markings: a spot over Rs and
the base of the median fork, which is weaker and almost interrupted in cell r5; a
preapical band distal to tip of R,, reaching tip of R; so filling the end of cell r,,
narrowed basad behind R; and extending across median fork in which it is
interrupted. Radial veins except Rs strongly setose below, R with 32-36 setae below,
r-m with 3—4 setae but vein tb bare beneath. Haltere yellow.
Abdomen dark brown with genitalia (figured by Chandler, 1988) yellow.
Gonostylus with ventral stylomere bearing 4 strong spinose setae on its distal
margin, the outermost longer and strongly bent in the middle; dorsal stylomere
bluntly triangular with 2 long setae apically.
Wing length 2.4-3.0 mm.
Female. Not certainly recognised.
Holotype male, ENGLAND, Surrey, Chobham Common, Gracious Pond,
16.x.1984 (Chandler, deposited in NMS).
Paratypes: ENGLAND: 1 male, same data as holotype; 1 male, Bucks, Burnham
Beeches, 13.v.1990; 1 male, Berks, Windsor Forest, Highstanding Hill, 27.vii.1991; 1
male, Berks, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Sandford Copse, 7.x.1998 (all
Chandler).
Etymology. The name refers to the bent spines on the gonostylus.
Discussion. Chandler (1988) recorded this species as new to Britain under the name
gratiosa Winnertz, 1863 and figured the male genitalia. However, according to A.I.
Zaitzev (pers. comm.) he has examined specimens of both this species and of a
species agreeing better with the genitalia figures by Dziedzicki (1915) with the
gonostylar spines shorter and not bent, which he considers the true gratiosa, so the
British species is here described as new.
As indicated by Chandler (1988) it is close to M. /uctuosa Meigen in most external
characters, differing in the shining mesoscutum and tibia 2 with 3 ventral setae
Mycetophila eppingensis sp. n. (Figs 40-44)
Male. Head shining dark brown; clypeus grey dusted. Antenna with scape, pedicel
and base of first flagellomere yellow, rest brown; flagellomeres from second onwards
nearly twice as long as broad. Palpus yellow.
Thorax shining dark brown with broad yellow humeral area on each side of broad
median brown stripe to fore margin and narrower yellow prescutellar patch on each
side. Scutellum mainly dull yellow, brown basally. Pleura and mediotergite dark
brown. Decumbent mesoscutal and anepisternal setae yellow, stronger marginal
setae including postalar, prescutellar, two pairs of strong scutellars and strong setae
on prothorax dark brown; short setae on laterotergite yellow, stronger darker setae
on posterior margin of anepisternum and upper margin of anepimeron.
Legs yellow except dark brown apical quarter of femur 3. Tibia 2 with 3 anterior, 1
anterodorsal (beyond anterior setae), 5 dorsal, 2 short posterior (near tip) and 3 long
ventral setae. Tibia 3 with 7 anterior (4th to 6th setae shorter), 0 anterodorsal, 6
dorsal (basal short, but no shorter interspersed setae) and 2 short weak posterior
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 37
Figs 40-44. Genitalia of Mycetophila eppingensis sp. n. 40-43, male: 40, ventral view of
gonocoxites and gonostyli (only ventral stylomere of right gonostylus included); 41, dorsal
stylomere of right gonostylus; 42, aedeagus; 43, tergite 9 and cerci. 44, female, lateral view. Scale
line 0.1 (male), 0.2 mm (female).
(near tip) setae. Tibia 2 with first two rows and tibia 3 with first anterior row of
setulae (adjacent to anterior setae) dark brown, the rest on 3 mainly yellowish but
becoming dark in several rows near tip.
Wing yellow with two strong brown markings: a median spot around Rs and r-m
from R,, filling base of cell r; and extending into base of median fork; preapical
marking distal to tip of R,, reaching tip of R; and narrowed basad behind Rs,
becoming fainter towards M, and ending just beyond it, but a small patch present on
adjacent part of M,. Radial veins except Rs strongly setose below, R with 38-40
setae below, 3-8 weaker setae below apical part of tb, similar to the weaker setae on
the fork veins. Haltere yellow.
Abdomen with tergite 1 and broad band on each of tergites 2-6 dark brown, the
fore and hind margins of these tergites broadly yellow, sternites yellow. Genitalia
238 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
(Figs 40-43) brownish yellow. Gonostylus (Figs 40-41): ventral stylomere with
rounded distal lobe and one strong seta set in concave apical margin; dorsal
stylomere short and broad with a long apical seta.
Wing length 3.0—3.1 mm.
Female. Generally similar to male. Abdomen more extensively darkened, tergites
2-6 with only apical margin yellow. Ovipositor (Fig. 44) slightly brownish, slender,
with two segmented cerci. Tarsus of fore leg slightly enlarged below tarsomeres 2-3.
Wing length 3.2mm.
Holotype male, ENGLAND, Essex, Epping Forest, ““Wake/Sunshine” area
(TQ421988), by Wake Valley Lake, 18.vii.1998 (Chandler, deposited in NMS).
Paratypes: ENGLAND: 1 male, Essex, Epping Forest, Great Monk Wood
(TQ418983), 18.vii.1998; 1 female, Essex, Epping Forest, Cuckoo Pits (TQ401957),
17.vi1.1998 (both D.M. Ackland, in author’s collection); 1 male, Oxon, Spartum
Fen, 15.x.1999 (Chandler); | male, Hants, Leckford, Water Garden, 11.xi.1999
(Chandler).
Discussion. The collection sites at Epping Forest were deciduous woodland
dominated by beech (Fagus sylvatica), the other sites mixed woodland. This species
belongs to group E of Laffoon (1957) and runs in his key to the Holarctic species
M. laeta (Walker) because of presence of some setae below vein tb, but differs from
laeta in the form of the gonostylus. M. /aeta also has the thorax yellow with three
dark stripes on the mesoscutum.
M. eppingensis is distinguished from other British species with setae below tb by
these being present only near the tip of the vein and by the absence of short setae
between the strong dorsal setae on tibia 3. Among species with tb bare, it agrees in
chaetotactic and wing marking characters with /uctuosa Meigen and deflexa sp. n.;
and with the latter in thoracic colouring but differs from it in the second row of
anterior setulae on tibia 3 being dark only near the tip.
The Mycetophila signata Meigen Group
The Palaearctic species of this group were revised by Zaitzev (1999), who figured
the male genitalia. British specimens of alea (Laffoon), sigillata Dziedzicki, signata
Meigen and blanda Winnertz agree with his figures, but the common British species
M. signatoides Dziedzicki is figured as M. assimilis Matile, 1967 which is here
regarded as synonymous with signatoides. It is concluded that the species figured by
Zaitzev as signatoides is different. Zaitzey recorded both species from European
Russia, but his signatoides more rarely.
Mycetophila stricklandi (Laffoon)
This belongs to the signata group and can be determined from the figures by
Laffoon (1957) and Zaitzev (1999). In the mainly dark brown body coloration and
other external characters it resembles M. blanda and since it was first recognised as
British from the find at Spring Wood, Boltby, three specimens were found to have
previously been misidentified as blanda. The Scottish record was also from a conifer
plantation but the Irish specimen was from a beech (Fagus) wood.
According to Laffoon (1957), North American specimens often have the ernie
apically or more extensively yellow, but the British specimens have the abdomen
entirely dark brown. They differ from blanda in having only a small paler central
patch on the scutellum, whereas in blanda the scutellum is broadly yellow medially
and there is a distinct yellow prescutellar spot on the scutum; stricklandi also has
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13; 2001
more dark setulae in the first anterior row on the hind tibia, these reaching nearly to
the tip while blanda has dark setulae only in the middle part of this row.
British material of M. stricklandi:
ENGLAND: North Yorks, Langthwaite, 26.vi.1981, 1 male (I1.F.G. McLean) and
Boltby, Spring Wood, 19.vii.1996, 1 male (Chandler). SCOTLAND: Perthshire.
Tummel Forest, 28.v.1973, 1 male (Chandler). IRELAND: Wicklow, Killakee.
8.v.1988, | male (Chandler).
Phronia carli sp. n. (Figs 45-48)
Phronia longelamellata: Lundstr6m, 1906, misidentification, not Strobl, 1898
Male. Head grey dusted. Antenna with scape, pedicel and first flagellomere yellow,
rest of flagellum dark grey. Palpus yellow.
Thorax mainly brownish yellow, with three vague brown stripes on disc of
mesoscutum, the median broadened in front and almost reaching fore margin, the
Figs 45-48. Male genitalia of Phronia carli sp. n. 45, ventral view of gonocoxites and
gonostylus; 46, tergite 9 and cerci; 47, internal view of gonostylus: 48, aedeagus.
240 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
laterals only behind humeral area. Scutellum apically, laterotergite and mediotergite
brownish. All setae brown.
Legs yellow, with apical quarter to third of hind femur and tip of hind tibia brown.
Tibia 2 with 3-4 anterodorsal, 3—4 posterodorsal and 7 posterior setae. Tibia 3 with 9
anterodorsal, 13-16 posterodorsal and 6 posterior (on apical two fifths) setae.
Wing yellowish with brown costa and radial veins. Stem of median fork up to
twice as long as r-m.
Abdomen with tergites 1-3 mainly yellow, 2—3 dark brown dorsally, tergite 4 with
yellow lateral triangle basally, rest and tergites S—6 dark brown. Genitalia (Figs 45—
47) yellow. Cercus (Fig. 46) elongate, extending a little beyond tip of gonostylus in
situ. Gonostylus with lateral portion comprising a curved strap-like ventral lobe and
a narrow dorsal lobe (Figs 45, 47).
Wing length 2.7—-3.2mm.
Female. Unknown.
Holotype male, SCOTLAND, Perthshire, Bridge of Balgie, 10.vii.1988, oak
(Quercus) and beech (Fagus) woodland (Chandler, deposited in NMS).
Paratypes: SCOTLAND: 2 males, Ross, Easter Fearn, birch (Betula) woods,
11.vi.1984; 1 male, Ross, Beinn Eighe NNR, 10.vi.1984; 1 male, Sutherland, Migdale
Wood, 28.v.1994; 1 male, Sutherland, Torboll Wood, 26.vi.1999 (Chandler); 1 male,
Argyll, Ariundle, 10.vi.1982 (A.E. Stubbs).
Etymology. Named for Carl Lundstr6m who first recognised this species.
Discussion. | added P. longelamellata Strobl to the British list (Chandler, 1992b),
but this was based on the figures by Lundstr6m (1906) of a Finnish male. Kallweit
(1998) has studied Strobl’s types and found that /ongelamellata is a senior synonym
of P. minuta Landrock. Lundstr6m (1906) identified as Jongelamellata a species with
long cerci (his “upper lamellae’), which he thought agreed with Strobl’s description,
but in minuta it 1s the gonostyli which are elongate. Lundstr6m did not describe his
species further and it is here described as new.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to all the collectors cited above for enabling me to study and report
on their finds. I also thank the authorities of the museums which have permitted
loans of relevant material.
The material reported from Burnham Beeches was obtained in a survey carried out
by John Ismay, while that from Epping Forest was collected during a survey of the
Diptera of the Forest. Both surveys were on behalf of and funded by the Corporation
of London. Records from the Ashridge Estate were obtained during a survey on
behalf of and funded by the National Trust. Material from the garden at
Buckingham Palace was collected as part of an in-depth survey into the flora and
fauna there, with gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen, by the London
Natural History Society and the Natural History Museum. Colin Plant sorted the
Malaise trap material, from which the records cited here originate.
I also thank Alexander Zaitzev, Alexei Polevoi and Jan Sevcik for information on
particular species and for useful discussion during the preparation of this paper.
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Chandler, P.J. 1994b. Dynatosoma thoracicum Zett. sensu Landrock new to Britain. In Exhibits,
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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Ranatra linearis (L.) (Heteroptera: Nepidae) in flight—My numerous previous
encounters with Ranatra had left me in no doubt that it must fly quite frequently, as I
have regularly found adults in isolated, ephemeral water bodies. Clegg (1952) simply
States that it ‘can fly’, but Chinery (1972) erroneously states that it is winged but
flightless. I had long harboured a great desire to see the water stick-insect fly, as it
looks such an unlikely aeronaut. At c.11.45am on 12.v.2000, I was using a pond net
to sample some small, temporary pools on Churt Flashes, Surrey (SU83). I had never
seen Ranatra there before, despite annually dipping the ponds since 1988. With the
first trawl of my net I caught a large adult. Unusually the bug adopted a sprightly
stance right up on the tips of its tarsi. Just for a second I thought the impossible
might happen, but it didn’t, so I placed it back in the water. A minute later at the
next pond my friend Dr Rob McGibbon and I were treated to the most amazing
sight of a Ranatra (possibly the one I had just caught) on the wing. It flew at about
shoulder height with the body and front legs held parallel to the ground. The middle
and hind legs were outstretched downwards at 90° to the body, and the tarsi
appeared to be pressed together. The abdomen showed up bright red, and at a casual
glance it could easily be mistaken for a red damselfly (C eriagrion or Pyrrhosoma), if it
wasn’t for the very peculiar direct and level flight, with wide slow turns. This is at
odds with Joan Hardingham’s observations of a Ranatra flying in Suffolk (Chalkley,
1996). She stated that the “body is held at 60°”, but also that ‘the wings are of a
russetty colour like an earwig’s’, presumably as a result of confusing the wings
(which are colourless) with the abdomen beneath.
This all too brief excursion into the air was curtailed by a headlong kamikaze dive
at the pond edge ending in a half-submerged crash landing. The bug remained in this
position for at least five minutes. The combination of shock and delight had left me
doubled up in hysterics and my companion clearly feared for my sanity, until I
explained just how privileged we were to see such a rare sight.
That this phenomenon should be observed on a fairly typical warm spring day
makes it all the more surprising that it isn’t witnessed more often ——JONTY DENTON.
2 Sandown Close, Alton, Hants GU34 2TG, UK
REFERENCES
Chalkley, A. K. 1996. Ranatra linearis—in flight! Heteroptera Study Group Newsletter, No. 13,
9
Chinery, M. 1972. A field guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins, London.
Clegg, J. 1952. Freshwater Life. Frederick Warne, London.
244 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
BENHS FIELD MEETINGS
Burnham Beeches, Slough, Berkshire, 18 October 1997
Leader: Ian Sims.—Half a dozen members met the leader at the main car park at
Burnham Beeches for this field meeting. It was an overcast and cool day but glimpses
of sunshine brightened the morning session. The main objective was to search for
evidence of Phyllonorycter mespilella (Htibn.). Mines believed to be of this species in
whitebeam had been collected here the previous autumn but no adults were reared.
Burnham Beeches is a large area of broadleaf woodland that is managed by the City
of London Corporation. Within its bounds are isolated areas of heath where ling
(Calluna vulgaris) is the most abundant heather species and cross-leaved heath (Erica
tetralix) also grows. Common cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) is a widespread if
sparse member of the forest ground flora. There are several lakes, drainage streams
and marshy areas, but the chief entomological attraction of the site is its abundance
of dead wood.
The morning was spent in the woods and heaths to the north and east of the car
park. Here an example of Nycteola revayana (Scop.) (oak nycteoline) was put up
from heather in a heathy area known as “the moat”. Although an early date for
collecting fungal-feeding tineids, several birch polyporus fungi (Piptoporus betulinus)
with obvious signs of feeding by lepidopterous larvae were taken. Subsequently these
yielded examples of the rare Nemapogon variatella (Clem.) and the common N.
cloacella (Haw.). Other members of this family, reared in 1998 from material
collection on this meeting, included Morophaga choragella (D. & S.) and Triaxomera
parasitella (Hiib.), both from the fungus Jnonotus dryadeus on beech, and N.
wolffiella (Karsh. & Neil.) reared from Hypoxylon multiforme on dead birch logs.
While collecting these an overwintering case of Coleophora artemisicolella Bru. was
found. This species is not mapped for VC24 in MBGBI, 3.
Leaf miners were few and far between. It was not clear if we were too early or late
in the season for these, but few vacated mines were seen. However, several members
of our party found sufficient mines of Stigmella tityrella (St.) in beech (Fagus
sylvatica) to be worth retaining some and attempting to rear them out. Those trying
this were advised to take some beech leaf mould for the larvae to pupate in and this
tactic proved successful. Mines of a phyllonoryctid were found in whitebeam. These
matched the description of P. mespilella, but material reared the following spring by
Dennis O’Keeffe proved they were P. sorbi (Frey.).
Lunch was taken at the snack bar back at the car park, where a dog rose (Rosa
canina) was seen growing next to our table. The leaves of this plant were riddled with
larvae of Ectoedemia angulifasciella (St.). After lunch the party moved to some ponds
in woodland to the south of the car park. En route, green islands were noted in fallen
leaves of aspen (Populus tremula). These proved to betray the presence of
E. argyropeza (Zell.) larvae mining within the leaf petioles and just starting
to feed in the base of the leaves. In the past I have found this species
quite late in the year, many other stigmellids having vacated their mines by
the time argyropeza is feeding. Hence the uncertainty as to whether the
leafminer season was late or early, on account of the lack of mines for
other species. It later transpired that 1997 was a poor season in this part
of the country for leafmining Microlepidoptera.
On arrival at the ponds several members of the group spent some time recording
aquatic invertebrates. Interesting records included: Coleoptera—several examples of
BR. J. ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 245
the noisy Hygrobia hermanni, Acilius sulcatus, Helochares punctatus, Hyphydrus
ovatus and Hydroporus erythrocephalus; Hemiptera——Corixa punctata; Diptera
Ptychoptera (probably minuta) and Tipula (probably a Tipulinae sp.). The Diptera
larvae were recorded from a marshy area with abundant sphagnum.
Other orders seen during the meeting included: Hemiptera—Palomena prasina
(L.), Dolycoris baccarum (L.) and Elasmostethus interstinctus (L.); Diptera
Myathropa florea (L.), Melanostoma scalare (Fab.), Cerodontha ireos (Gour.) and
Phytomyza ilicis Curt.; Coleoptera—Cylindrinotus laevioctostriatus (Goeze), Crypto-
phagus lycoperdi (Scop.) (in an unidentified species of earth-ball fungus),
Glischrochilus quadriguttatus (Fab.) and Epuraea unicolor (Olivier) (both in a rotten
beef-steak fungus Fistulina hepatica on oak) and Cicones variegatus (Hellwig) notable
A (in a trunk of a standing de-barked tree long dead); Hymenoptera—Fenusa dohrnii
(Tischbein), Eriocampa ovata (L.).
The meeting closed around 16.00-h. A total of 49 species of Lepidoptera (47
micros and 2 macros), 3 Hemiptera, 6 Diptera, 6 Coleoptera and 3 Hymenoptera
were recorded. A full species list has been sent to our archivist and to those managing
this woodland, to whom I extend my thanks for permission to hold this meeting.
Warburg Nature Reserve, Bix Bottom, Oxfordshire, 9 May 1998
Leader: Ian Sims.—This field meeting was planned as a repeat of the meeting held
here at the same time in 1997. Once again, the woods around Nettlebed Common
and Stoke Row were visited in the afternoon to look for the rare coleophorid
Coleophora antennariella H.-S. At this time of year it should be looked for in flight
around hairy wood-rush (Luzula pilosa). Just like last year, none were seen.
The meeting commenced in the car park of the Warburg Reserve. For a
description of the habitat see British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11,
52-54. Around 10 members met the leader and we set off to walk a circuit of the
reserve, recording as we went. Owing to the weather, which was cool and breezy with
dull spells and brief periods of sun, day-flying Lepidoptera were scarce. Many
aculeate Hymenoptera and Diptera were recorded by several of our party, but
unfortunately only one set of records has been forthcoming for these groups.
Species recorded on the wing by day included: Lepidoptera—Micropterix calthella
(L.), Pancolia leuwenhoekella (L.) (by far the most common species of Lepidoptera
seen by day) and Epinotia subocellana (Don.); Diptera—Platycheirus albimanus,
Criorhina berberina and Melanostoma mellinum; Coleoptera—Propylea 14-punctata
and Pyrochroa serraticornis, Hymenoptera (Aculeata)—Formica fusca and Myrmica
ruginodis.
After dinner in a local public house the meeting reconvened for light trapping.
Around six or seven lamps were operated at various locations on the reserve.
Unfortunately the cloud cover that had been present for nearly the whole day
evaporated to leave a clear cold night. Consequently, records of nocturnal
Macrolepidoptera were well down on last year’s meeting and no new records of
these were made. One member of our party left me a note to say they had departed,
as it was too cold. They had seen a total of six common noctuids and geometrids.
None of the others present fared any better, despite several of us staying until dawn.
The final totals of species seen were 44 Lepidoptera (16 macros and 17 micros),
three Diptera, two Hymenoptera and two Coleoptera. These are far fewer than the
numbers seen at last year’s meeting, on account of the poor weather this time round.
Also seen were numbers of common lizards, grass snakes, slow worms, and the
246 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
unusual plant Daphne laureola. A full species list has been sent to our archivists and
supplied to Rod D’Ayala, the warden of this superb reserve.
Nonsuch Park, Cheam, Surrey, 16 May 1998
Leaders: David Lonsdale and Roger Hawkins.—The palace of Henry VIII at
Nonsuch is now nothing but a distant memory, but a small part of the original park
remains and is managed as a public amenity by the boroughs of Sutton and Epsom.
Two adjoining areas of former farmland extend the open space but have been the
subject of much controversial debate and several planning applications. The future
of one of them, Cherry Orchard Farm, remains unsettled, but the other, Warren
Farm, has been partly developed for housing, with its greater part handed over to the
Woodland Trust to be managed as a reserve for trees, wildlife and public access.
They will be trying to keep most of it as open fields.
The meeting was attended by ten members of the BENHS and two visitors from
the Alton Natural History Society, who soon showed themselves to be just as
knowledgeable about insects as our own members. We also welcomed three adults
and one child from Nonsuch Watch, a society of local residents who record the
wildlife at Nonsuch and campaign to preserve these lands as a place of quiet
enjoyment.
We went first to Cherry Orchard Farm, a former stock farm whose enriched soil
currently supports a flora of coarse grasses and tall herbs. The junior member of the
party was most interested in colourful but common insects such as the red-and-black
froghopper, Cercopis vulnerata Illiger, the twenty-four spot ladybird, Subcoccinella
24-punctata (L.), and a pentatomid shieldbug, Eurydema oleracea (L.), which was
present on horse-radish in both its cream-spotted and red-spotted forms, and these
were actually mating together. The entomologists took more interest in less common
insects such as the leaf-beetle Chrysolina oricalcia (Miller) and the weevil Magdalis
armigera (Fourcroy) which was abundant on elms in the hedges alongside the fields,
both here and at Warren Farm.
We stopped for lunch, most appropriately, at the Banqueting House, a Tudor relic
which survives only as a rectangular brick wall on which we sat and ate our
sandwiches. The ground inside the wall is raised and encloses several tall trees. The
attraction of this site is a colony of the scarce ant Lasius brunneus (Latreille),
discovered here by Peter Harvey in 1993. We found it nesting in two large oak trees
and, perhaps surprisingly, also in a cedar, where it was tending aphids living on some
overhanging ivy. The field meeting had been advertised as a hunt for both this ant
and a rare four-spotted ladybird, and a tiny four-spotted coccinellid beetle was
indeed beaten from the ivy overhanging the cedar. It was not, however, the species
we were searching for, but Nephus quadrimaculatus (Herbst), a formerly-rare species
that has recently become quite common on ivy. Mike Fox lingered at the Banqueting
House after lunch but, far from having a siesta, he continued to sieve the leaf litter
diligently in search of ants and was rewarded by finding two more uncommon
species, Leptothorax nylanderi (Forster) and Stenamma westwoodi Westwood. Both
were in the leaf litter beneath the oaks and the former was also found on the trunk of
the cedar. Some management of this site has been proposed, but felling the mature
oaks would destroy the colony of Lasius brunneus, while cutting the grass and
generally tidying up the site could easily eliminate the other two species.
The former arable farmland of Warren Farm had developed into long grass with
many flowers and a massive invasion of the Canadian goldenrod, Solidago canadensis
L., which the Woodland Trust is attempting to control. Here Ian Menzies swept the
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13; 2001 47
grassland and found the uncommon weevils Tychius stephensi Gyl\l. and Ceuthor-
hynchidius barnevillei Brisout. The latter weevil was swept from yarrow, Achillea
millefolium L., as was the leaf-beetle Cassida prasina Mliger. Also on the yarrow were
many chrysomelid larvae, two of which were reared out by Roger Hawkins as
Galeruca tanaceti (L.), moulting to adult on 13 and 15 June. A dead tree in the
middle of the farm was formerly a magnificent habitat for beetles, solitary wasps and
nesting birds. It had been burnt out, but there David Lonsdale found the remnants of
a stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (L.). He had previously also found the lesser stag beetle,
Dorcus parallelipipedus (L), at the Banqueting House. Also at Warren Farm, Andrew
Halstead recorded the rare beetle /schnomera caerulea (L.), found previously at this
site by John Owen in 1976, and the tephritid fly Orellia falcata (Scop.), whose larvae
mine the roots and stem-bases of goatsbeard, Tragopogon pratensis L. Graham
Collins found the hoverfly Pipiza luteitarsis Zett., whose larvae feed on aphids on the
foliage of elms.
A remarkable feature of this field meeting was that the majority of members
attending were Hymenopterists, either wholly or in part, with sawflies, bees and
wasps, ants and ichneumons all being covered. The other members were principally
interested in the Coleoptera. Only Graham Collins spent part of his time looking for
Lepidoptera, but it is impossible to keep a good Order down and we were fascinated
by a tiny moth which was visiting the flowers of germander speedwell, Veronica
chamaedrys L.. This turned out to be an incurvariid, Adela fibulella (D. & S.), and the
speedwell is its host-plant. A small mining bee with red-marked abdomen, Andrena
labiata Fab., was also feeding at the speedwell flowers. The uncommon A. tibialis was
also present, while the familiar red mason-bee Osmia rufa (L.) was collecting mud
from puddles.
We concluded a most enjoyable and successful meeting by retiring to the Mansion
House, not a ruin but a splendid building at which functions such as wedding
receptions can be held in opulent surroundings. The general public can use a small
tea-room on the north side, and here we sat and relaxed and discussed the day’s
findings.
Much of the main body of the park is grassland managed by mowing, but recently,
late cutting has been introduced in some areas in order to benefit wildlife. There are
many large trees, both native and exotic, and also old hedges. In a follow-up visit on
12 August, Ian Menzies found that nymphs of the coreid bug Gonocerus
acuteangulatus (Goeze) were numerous on hawthorns in these hedges. This bug
has spread outwards from its Box Hill stronghold in recent years. He also beat a
specimen of the buprestid beetle Agrilus sinuatus (Olivier) from these hawthorns,
whose appearance suggests that this species is well-established in the park.
Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire, 18 July 1998
Leader: Ian Heppenstall. A total of 7 Members and friends attended this afternoon
and evening meeting at a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust wetland nature reserve and SSSI
near Doncaster. It provided a rare opportunity for those resident in the Yorkshire
area to enjoy one of the Society’s Field Meetings. Limited recent fieldwork had
indicated that the reserve could be of regional significance for both lepidoptera and
odonata. Unfortunately, the weather, as with much of 1998, was scarcely ideal, a
very stiff breeze keeping most insects well down during the afternoon, and only 5
common species of odonata were noted. Butterflies seen included comma Po/ygonia
c-album (Linn.) and ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus (Linn.). Otherwise recording was
largely restricted to searching for leaf mines of microlepidoptera. Beating was
248 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
generally unprofitable because of the strong breeze. Thankfully, the wind had
dropped by evening but under clearing skies, the temperature fell to below the
seasonal norm for the night’s moth trapping. Three light traps were operated in the
central part of the reserve.
Notwithstanding the far from ideal weather conditions, a healthy total of 105
species of Lepidoptera were recorded, either as adults or larvae, over the meeting as a
whole and some 24 of these—mostly microlepidoptera—were new to the Reserve.
Although largely unexceptional, they included the following locally scarce species:
Evergestis pallidata (Hufn.), blue-bordered carpet Plemyria rubiganata rubiginata
(D.&S.), haworth’s pug Eupithecia haworthiata Doubl. and dingy footman Eilema
griseola (Hb.). Philonorycter heegeriella (Zell.), Blastobasis decolorella (Woll.), large
twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata (Cl.), purple thorn Selenia tetralunaria
(Hufn.) and silky wainscot Chilodes maritimus (Tausch.) were perhaps the more
noteworthy of the remainder.
New Forest, Hampshire, 10 October 1998
Leader: Tony Pickles.—This field meeting was held to follow up last year’s meeting
which attempted to establish the range of Agrochola haematidea (Dup.), the southern
chestnut, in the New Forest. Because this noctuid moth flies for a limited period,
around dusk only, the meeting was convened for 17.00 hours and members were
allocated sites which seemed likely to support the moth in the east of the Forest. In
1997 haematidea had been found to be present over the west of the Forest more or
less wherever suitable conditions prevailed. The moth seemed to favour tall mature
bell heather Erica cinerea L. growing in drier areas.
The weather was much better than in the previous year and nine members and
friends met at Lyndhurst where a most persistent New Forest donkey tried to join the
group. The bipeds later split into three parties, but only the members trapping on the
higher ground just before Matley Passage were successful. One female haematidea
came to their lights before 19.30 hours thus confirming its presence in the East of the
Forest. Three unidentified, medium sized noctuids which could also have been of this
species were observed making short low flights over the heather just before the onset
of darkness at between 19.10 and 19.25.
Little can be deduced from one month, but it is notable that there is still no
occasion on which the moth has been seen in numbers in the New Forest, although
this seems to be frequently the case in Sussex. The bell heather in the east is
predominantly not tall and mature, but is mostly present on edges of larger tracts of
Calluna and as no more than ten per cent of the whole. It would seem encouraging
that the moth can survive in areas that do not comply very closely with its preferred
habitat. I would like to thank those members who attended the meeting and the
Forestry Commission for their assistance.
Homefield Wood, Medmenham, Buckinghamshire, 11 October 1998
Leader: Ian Sims.—Despite a rainy start to the day, by the time of the meeting the
weather had cleared and the day was sunny, warm and calm: ideal conditions for
searching for leaf-mining Microlepidoptera, the main quarry for this meeting so late
in the season. Unfortunately, perhaps due to the inclement weather earlier in the day,
no one apart from the leader attended this meeting. Not perturbed, I spent an hour
or two recording before returning home. Homefield Wood is a nature reserve on the
Chilterns managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists
BR, J, ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 249
Trust (BBONT). It consists of a large complex of woods, mostly pine and beech, with
forest rides and areas of chalk downland.
The first thing I encountered, while waiting to see if anyone was going to show up,
was a full-grown larva of Abraxas sylvata (Scop.) (clouded magpie) descending on a
silken thread from wych elms (U/mus glabra) at the car park. In fact, it landed on my
head! Searching the wych elms revealed many more larvae of this species in various
stages of growth. Also seen on these trees were mines and larvae of Bucculatrix
albedinella Zell., and mines of Stigmella marginicolella (Stt.) and S. ulmivora (Fol.).
Along the border of a path through the woods plants of wood avens (Geum
urbanum) were being mined by S. aurella (Fab.)/gei (Wocke). The taxonomic status
of these moths is still, I believe, uncertain. Another interesting stigmellid,
S. aeneofasciella (H.-S.) was found mining leaves of agrimony (Agrimonia
eupatoria) in a small area of chalk dowland, along with Fomoria
septembrella (Stt.) in perforate St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). In
a damp area of woodland Ectoedemia arcuatella (H-S.) was found in wild
strawberry (Fragaria vesca). One of the few oaks (Quercus robur) in this
complex of woods contained EF. albifasciella (Hein.) along with S. atricapitella (Haw.)
and Tischeria ekebladella (Byjerk.). | Bedellia ~somnulentella (Zell.) was
abundant in field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) growing along most of
the borders of many woodland rides, early instar larvae of Stephensia
brunnichella (L.) were abundant in wild basil (Clinopodium vulgare) while
vacated feeding sites of Parornix fagivora (Frey) were found on several of
the large beeches (Fagus sylvatica). Several species of phyllonoryctids were
seen, the best was probably Phyllonorycter lantanella (Sch.). Larvae were
found in leaves of the wayfaring-tree (Viburnum Jlantana), but only in
plants that had been cut back to ground level during management of the
chalk downland and _ had _ subsequently regrown a little. Cases of
Coleophora artemisicolella’ Bru. were frequent on seeds of mugwort
(Artemisia vulgaris). This species is not mapped for VC 24 in MBGBI, 3.
A total of 7 species of Macrolepidoptera and 76 micros were recorded in various
stages, not bad for a relatively poor leafminer year. A full species list has been sent to
our archivists and supplied to BBONT, to whom I extend my thanks for permission
to hold this meeting.
Wye Valley Woodlands, Gloucestershire, 8 May 1999
Leader: Roger Gaunt.—This meeting was planned to do some recording in an area
of semi-natural broad-leaved woodland that has scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula
(Esp.) and Salebriopsis albicilla (H.-S.) later in the season, but in which there has
been no previous recording at this time of the year.
Unfortunately weather conditions were such that only a limited amount of
recording took place. Gavin Boyd travelled all the way from Northampton for the
morning meeting to be the only visiting member. Before heavy rain curtailed
activities, Gavin recorded just one bee, Nomada flava (Panzer), and in addition a
handful of moths of no special interest were knocked up.
In view of the conditions it did not seem likely that anyone would turn up in the
evening; however Norman Binsted set out from Romsey in dry weather and having
travelled all that way was undeterred by the rain, now light, that continued to fall.
His MV light, stationed at Shorn Cliff, attracted 28 species of moth. By far the most
common was orange footman Ei/ema sororcula (Hufn.) (Notable Nb.). Also recorded
was a speciality of these woods, pauper pug Euphithecia egenaria (H.-S.) (RDB3),
250 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
and little thorn Cepphis advenaria (Htb.), which has started coming to light in recent
years.
A new record for VC34 was made when an unfamiliar tortrix taken as a voucher
specimen turned out to be Metendothenia (formerly Hedya) atropunctana (Zett.).
Bradley et al. do not list this moth for Gloucestershire but there appears to have been
a record from Stroud (VC33) in 1917 (Metcalfe, 1917. The Entomologist, 50, 274).
A full species list was prepared and has been forwarded to Forest Enterprise, who
gave permission for the meeting to be held, and to BENHS for their archives.
Loch Con (NN6967; alt. 1500 ft), Perthshire, 29-30 May 1999
Leader: Keith Bland.— On 29 May even by Scottish standards, the weather was
somewhat inclement. Persistent light to heavy rain throughout the day until 15.00 hr
proved sufficient to deter all but the leader. In the afternoon the showers became
lighter and more intermittent and gave way to a fine overcast evening spoilt only by a
stiff breeze. In addition, the high water level in the loch prevented access to the
islands where some of the most interesting vegetation occurs. Then, to cap
everything, as darkness fell and the MV-lamp was lit, the sky cleared and out popped
the most magnificently clear full-moon. Very quickly the temperature plummeted
and everywhere became white with a heavy frost.
Of the early species only Argyrotaenia ljungiana (Thun.) (= pulchellana Haw.) was
encountered, although a cocoon with exuvium of Phragmatobia fuliginosa (L.)
indicated that this species was also on the wing. Several Ematurga atomaria (L.) and
Neofaculta ericetella (Geyer) had already emerged. A single pupa of the latter was
also found which emerged a few days later. An exposed bank supporting Genista
anglica and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi amongst its vegetation yielded Ancylis myrtillana
(Treitschke) and several well-marked Ancylis unguicella (L.). Unfortunately no larvae
could be found on the Genista or the Arctostaphylos. However, the cowberry sported
many mines of Ectoedemia weaveri (Staint.) and many blistermines of Phyllonorycter
junoniella (Zell.). The bilberry patches were well stocked with larvae but
predominantly those of the geometrids Hydriomena furcata (Thun.) and Operophtera
brumata (L.) with only a few young larvae of a tortricid, probably Rhopobota
naevana (Hibn.). The large quantity of old cocoons that had weathered out of the
peat suggested that last year had been a bumper year for the northern eggar,
Lasiocampa quercus callunae Palmer, in this area. A lunch-time retreat into the
fisherman’s bothy revealed only the corpses of a few Hofmannophila pseudospretella
(Stainton). Considering the weather and the altitude this list of a mere twelve species
of Lepidoptera is not unrespectable. The MV-light failed to raise even a kamikaze
gnat!
The Diptera were even less in evidence than the Lepidoptera. Besides the
occasional specimens of the ubiquitous Scathophaga stercoraria (L.), the impressive
larvae of Pedicia rivosa (L.) were present in the wet flushes and the larvae of
Scaptomyza graminum were found mining the leaves of Stellaria uliginosa.
The highlight of the day was however on the ornithological front when a first year
male red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) spent some twenty minutes casually
feeding within 10 yards of the parked car. Several common gulls (Larus canus) were
on eggs around the loch and several common scoter (Melanitta nigra) were busy
feeding further out on the open water.
BR. J. ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
Great Torrington woodlands, Devon, 26 June 1999
Leader: Roy McCormick.—The weather forecast looked decidedly bad, with rain
and thunder promised but it was decided to ‘give it a go’ with various people, who
were interested, being told over the phone that we would be at the prearranged spot
at 20.30. I arrived with Peter Franghiadi to find several people had already turned up
and the weather was reasonable with slight drizzle and hardly any wind; we were
hoping for cloud cover because it was the night before a full moon. We were a dozen
altogether with a mixture of Devon Moth Group, BENHS, Butterfly Conservation
and Devon Wildlife Trust members; we had one Devonshire Association member
and one person with a general interest who left before the night got underway,
probably put off by the proposed late finish. We discussed where everybody was to
go, with Barry Henwood, Harry Wooltorton, Darren Willetts and Bill Deakins
deciding to stay in the track where we had assembled; Peter Franghiadi and I had
already planned to go to the next block of woodland owned by Clinton Devon
Estates; a four-wheel drive was needed to get to this area. Adrian Henderson put a
couple of traps in his own block of woodland just up the road. In all, eleven traps
were put out in the three areas.
Peter and I and a couple of DMG members went on to our spot, set up the
equipment and put out the wine ropes; by the time we had this finished it was time to
go back to the main site to see what had come in. The weather was still holding with
the temperature around 15-17 °C; it kept trying to rain but thankfully it did not. The
list started to build with one or two good species among the commoner moths. After
we had checked out the traps in the main track we returned to our own equipment
(Adrian was doing his own check on his traps, reporting back to me later). On the
way back my Land Rover had a front wheel puncture in the rutted track leading to
our site; a frantic wheel change was carried out, the people with me helping out as
best they could; this was around 23.20 and the only lights we had were a torch and a
lantern—tucky that the track had a stony base. When we eventually got back to our
site and started to look at the traps, the first Moma alpium (scarce merveille-du-jour)
had already turned up; this was around 23.45 and it was a fresh female. The list had
increased considerably by the time we had finished looking at our lights but no more
M. alpium yet so we piled back into the Land Rover and returned to the main track
to see how things were progressing. Barry Henwood had taken the rare tortrix
Celypha aurofasciana (Haw.) and Phlyctaenia stachydalis (Germ.) had turned up at
two of the sites, Bill Deakins had his first M. a/pium and several other good species
had come in. Harry was having trouble with his generator so was not doing very well:
I found out later that his car had broken down so Harry definitely did not have a
good night. The time was around 01.15 and we decided to take our leave so we said
our good nights and went back to our site to pack up; at around 01.30 we started to
pack up and two more male M. alpium were found; the list by this time was around
100 species but there was nothing on the wine ropes. As we packed up the rain
started, gentle at first but increasing and by the time we had finished around 02.00 it
was raining lightly; this got worse as we drove home. I think we finished just in time.
The final list came to 120 species.
The more interesting species were Pandemis cinnamomeana (Treit.); Celypha
aurofasciana (Haw.); Eudonia delunella (Staint.); Phlyctaenia stachydalis (Germ.);
Euphyia unangulata (Haw.) (sharp-angled carpet); Chloroclystis debiliata (Hiib.)
(bilberry pug); Hydrelia sylvata (D. & S.) (waved carpet); Macaria liturata (Clerck)
(tawny-barred angle) & (probably) f. nigrofulvata; Cleorodes lichenaria (Hufn.)
(brussels lace); Aetheria bicolorata (Hufn.) (broad-barred white); Moma alpium
252 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
(Osb.) (scarce merveille-du-jour); and Laspeyria flexula (D. & S.) (beautiful hook-
tip). The best catch of the night was not identified until Sunday. A Heterogenea asella
(D. & S.) (triangle) was taken with permission from Bill Deakins’ trap by Barry
Henwood who did not immediately recognise it but on examination on Sunday he
identified it as this species. He brought it round to me and I confirmed the
identification. There are only two records from the Plymouth and Plymbridge areas
from over 100 years ago.
Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon, 9 July 1999
Leader: Roy McCormick.—The evening was dry and cloudy with a temperature that
held at around 14°C, and it looked as though the Racecourse event could be good for
a change; the site has never been very productive but it has produced some good
finds. Bernard Barnett, John Muggleton and IJ arrived to find Mr and Mrs Brown
(Devon Moth Group Members) and a Butterfly Conservation Member, Mrs D
Dicker and daughter waiting for us; another DMG Member had gone to the wrong
place and missed the event.
We made our way to the trapping site and set up my equipment of four traps and
did a bit of dusking while waiting for darkness to fall; nothing of note was seen
before I started up the generator and once the lights were operating moths started to
trickle in slowly. We did one round of the traps with nothing of note seen and Mrs
Dicker and daughter decided that they had seen some moths and it was time for them
to leave. I think they enjoyed the short stay and saw moths they had never seen
before.
On the next round we had elephant hawk and jersey tiger plus a few of the larger
moths and felt that it was a shame that Mrs Dicker did not stay that little bit longer.
The list crept up as more visits to the traps were made but we had decided that this
was not going to be a late night because we had an Exhibition (The Creepy Crawly
Show) to go to the following morning. Around 23.30 I set up the ‘Robinson’ trap and
small generator (this was firmly chained to an open barn) and we set about bringing
the other equipment in. This trap was started up before we left at around midnight,
and was left running until it ran out of fuel; this was collected in the morning prior to
the Exhibition. Specimens for this event are collected to be shown live in a cage at the
Exhibition and are released after the show; this display creates a great deal of interest
with the people who attend the event.
The more interesting of the species seen were one Calamotropha paludella (Hib.)
taken outside the ‘Robinson’; two Catoptria falsella (D. & S.); two Cleorodes
lichenaria (Hufn.) (brussels lace); one Thumatha senex (Hib.) (round-winged
muslin); one Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda) (jersey tiger); one Callimorpha
dominula (L.) (scarlet tiger); two Lacanobia suasa (D. & S.) (dog’s tooth) and four
Apamea ophiogramma (Esp.) (double lobed).
Sloden Inclosure and Ladycross, New Forest, Hampshire, 14 August 1999
Leader: Paul Waring.—The main aim of this meeting was to see if we could find the
dark crimson underwing moth Catocala sponsa (L.) in the tract of mature oak
woodland in Sloden Inclosure in the north of the New Forest, near Fritham. Since
1995 the Society has held field meetings annually in the New Forest to investigate the
status of this species and other rare insects, continuing a long history of visits by the
BENHS to this exceptional area. The meeting in 1995 confirmed the presence of both
the dark and light crimson underwings C. sponsa and C. promissa (D. & S.) at five
BR. J, ENT, NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
separate localities on the east side of the Forest and the light crimson underwing at a
sixth (Waring, 1996a & b). In 1996 we were investigating various heaths and bogs
near Sway when a light crimson underwing came to light in open ground at
Goatspen Plain (SU2301), the nearest oak woodlands being the Inclosures of
Wilverley, Holmsley and Brownhill in the south-west of the Forest (Waring, 1997).
Our meeting in 1997 was held in October to investigate the status of the southern
chestnut moth Agrochola haematidea Dup. in the western part of the Forest (Cook &
Pickles, 1998), with another meeting in October 1998 to extend our coverage for this
species (Pickles, 2000). We also returned to survey the crimson underwings in 1998,
breaking new ground by exploring Anses Wood, south of Fritham. We had no luck
here, but it was a cold night, though we recorded a couple of promissa and sponsa the
same night at the site in Whitley Wood where we had both in 1995 (D. Green, in
prep.).
Sloden Inclosure is just northwest of Anses Wood and only 2km south of Coopers
Hill, where Ron Louch recorded several light crimson underwings at wine-ropes and
light on 27 July 1997, so we were hopeful of a positive result. In the event the weather
was against us again this year and we did not see any crimson underwings at Sloden,
nor during ‘simultaneous trapping and wine-roping at the usual site at Ladycross
where up to 15 promissa were being recorded per night at the end of July 1999. Here
is how the sessions progressed.
The afternoon session was attended by David Burrows from Sussex, Bryan and
Trina Formstone from North Wales, Frank Lowe from Wiltshire and Rachel
Thomas and I. We met up at Furzey Lodge (SU366025) and after recording the
grayling butterfly Hipparchia semele (L.) on the open heath in sunshine, we drove
through a heavy rain shower to examine the heathland of Fritham Plain (SU225135)
before investigating the oak woodland on the south side of Sloden Inclosure
(SU216125) and selecting our trapping sites there for the evening. In the woodland at
Broomhill (SU260144), we spotted many flame orange brackets of the sulphur-
yellow polypore fungus Polyporus sulphureus growing on a dead old oak trunk which
had lost its canopy. On closer inspection we found a scattering of frass over some of
the brackets and wondered if these were of the waved black moth Parascotia
fuliginaria (L.) but we couldn’t see any larvae. Some of the frass pellets were large
and mouldy and the larvae should have moved off to pupate by this stage of the
summer. The fungi made a striking sight however.
The weather was blustery and cloudy with occasional sunshine as we walked over
Fritham Plain. We flushed singletons of the chevron Eulithis testata (L.) and the
double-striped pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Haw.) and a couple of graylings. Insects
were not flying and a common lizard Lacerta vivipara L. we found was distinctly
sluggish. The only caterpillar we saw was a final-instar larva of the broom moth
Ceramica pisi (L.). We adjourned for dinner to the Coach and Horses pub in
Cadnam, which has the advantage that it serves good hot food all day. The party
then returned to Sloden while Rachel and I went to Ladycross to meet the evening
arrivals: Graham Dennis from Pamber Forest and Mark and Elizabeth Trasenster
from London. Others expected had clearly been put off by the bad weather and poor
forecast. Tawny owls Strix aluco (L.) were already vocal by the time we had set up
four light traps and ten wine-ropes at Ladycross in the corridor of old oaks, some of
which have dark patches on the trunks from previous sugaring sessions. By 21.00hrs
a copper underwing Amphipyra pyramidea (L.) was already visiting an old sugar
patch and several other copper underwings and Svensson’s copper underwings
A. berbera svenssoni Fletcher came to our wine-ropes, along with a couple of large
yellow underwings Noctua pronuba L.. Likewise at Sloden Inclosure.
254 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
There had been a brief shower just before dusk and although it was fine thereafter,
it was clear, breezy and cold, with a dusk temperature of 14°C falling to a night
minimum of 12°C. We were in touch with the folks at Sloden by mobile phone and
the results were similar at both sites. None of us saw any crimson underwings. In the
first half hour after dusk all we had seen at Ladycross were a couple of flame
shoulder Ochropleura plecta (L.) and an angle shades Phlogophora meticulosa (L.).
Then a few black arches Lymantria monacha (L.) and maiden’s blush Cyclophora
punctaria (L.) began to come in from the oaks and one or two common noctuid
moths from the damp grassland under the trees, such as the small wainscot Photedes
pygmina (Haw.) and the straw dot Rivula sericealis (Scop.). By this stage the copper
underwings on the wine-ropes had almost all left and no other moths had come to
replace them. By 23.00hrs we were virtually certain that the crimson underwings were
not going to appear this night and members reluctantly began packing up their gear,
resolved to try again on a warmer night another year. A bat began patrolling over
our lights and caught some of the few moths which were arriving. Rachel and I
settled down in our tent for the night and ran one Robinson trap all night. The total
catch at dawn was only 36 macro-moths of 14 species, including 3 peacock moths
Semiothisa notata (L.). David Burrows stayed the night at Sloden with his MV light
and three others were operated until late. This group also sugared eleven oak trees
and used several wine-ropes. The most noteworthy of the captures at Sloden were
two narrow-winged pugs Eupithecia nanata angusta Prout from the heath, a yellow-
barred brindle Acasis viretata (Htibn.) and a bordered beauty Epione repandaria
(Hufn.), in addition to eleven maiden’s blush and 15 black arches, including one
female.
It was a glorious sunny morning at Ladycross as we packed up our gear and had
breakfast, with green woodpeckers Picus viridis (L.) and a nuthatch Sitta europaea
(L.) calling from this handsome cathedral of ancient oaks. The Forest had withheld
her crimson underwings from us on this occasion but we were more than happy
enjoying the scenery of this beautiful place. We shall have to hold another BENHS
meeting in the north of the Forest for the dark crimson underwing another year.
Later in the morning, in hot sun on nearby heathland at Roydon Common, before
returning to Peterborough, we encountered over a dozen silver Y moths Autographa
gamma (L.) flying about amongst the heather, several rush veneer moths Nomophila
noctuella (D. & S.) and a fresh red admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.), suggesting that the
squally weather of the previous day had brought with it some migrants from the south.
I would like to thank Dave Green for making the advance arrangements for this
meeting, the Forestry Commission for permission to hold it and the hardy souls who
joined us despite the unfavourable weather forecast. Copies of this report and the
species lists have been forwarded to the Forestry Commission and the BENHS
archivists.
REFERENCES
Cook, R. & Pickles, A., 1998. Field meeting report: 11 October 1997. New Forest, Hampshire.
British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 11: 63-64
Pickles, A., 2001. Field meeting report: 10 October 1998. New Forest, Hampshire. British
Journal of Entomology and Natural History 13: 248
Waring, P., 1996a. Field meeting report. New Forest, Hampshire, 12 August 1995. British
Journal of Entomology and Natural History 9: 56-59.
Waring, P., 1996b. Crimson Underwing survey in the New Forest, Hampshire, 12 August 1995.
Butterfly Conservation News 62: 20-21.
Waring, P., 1997. Field meeting report: 27 July 1996. Heathlands and bogs near Sway, New
Forest, Hampshire. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 10: 47-52.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13; 2001
OBITUARY
Brian Robert Baker
Brian Baker died suddenly, but peacefully, on the 13th February 2000, a tragedy
for his family and a sad loss to British entomology to which Brian had given so much
throughout his life.
Born on the 13th July 1924, Brian was a resident of Reading in Berkshire and there
was probably nobody who knew better the highways and byways, the woods, reed
beds and the chalk downs of this varied and interesting county. Brian would recall
how he learnt much of his field craft knowledge from Conrad Runge and other local
entomologists during his teenage years, knowledge which he was to pass on so
willingly to others in the years that followed.
In 1942, Brian joined the Royal Air Force and spent part of his service in the Far
East, in the immediate post-war period. There he no doubt studied the local flora and
fauna but it was the British Lepidoptera which was to be his main lifetime interest.
On leaving the RAF Brian joined the staff at Reading Museum & Art Gallery,
becoming their deputy director in 1956. Whilst at the museum he studied at Birkbeck
College, University of London, and obtained a degree in Natural Science in 1956. In
the following year he became a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and in
1963 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Museums Association. Brian retired
in 1987 but this did not see the end of his association with the museum which he
continued to visit frequently, and to take a great interest in its long renovation and
the housing and display of the important collections that it contains.
Brian joined the British Entomological & Natural History Society in 1952 and
regularly attended their meetings and annual exhibitions during the years that
followed. He was elected President of the Society in 1983. Brian was also a long-
standing member of the Reading & District Natural History Society which he joined
in 1936, at the tender age of twelve, and of which he remained an active and
influential member for the rest of his life. Brian was twice President of that society,
including during their centenary year, besides being their entomological recorder for
many years, indoor meetings secretary and regular supporter of the annual “mothing
night” when he would introduce botanists, coleopterists and those with a general
interest in natural history to the delights of seeing and recording moths in one of his
favourite localities. In all his associations with these societies it is so apparent that
Brian was more than willing to give his time and energy back to an interest from
which he clearly gained so much personal satisfaction during his life.
In 1977 Brian started collecting together the records of the Lepidoptera of
Berkshire which were eventually to be published as The Butterflies and Moths of
Berkshire in 1994. Not for Brian the dubious pleasures of the word processor, he
laboured long and hard on this project using a card index and typewriter to produce
the text for the first comprehensive county list since The Victoria County History of
Berkshire of 1906. Each record was carefully checked for accuracy and to ensure that
it properly fell within the boundaries of vice-county 22. Brian was an acknowledged
expert on the Sesiidae (clearwing moths) and it was no surprise when he was asked to
write a chapter of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, describing
the life histories of these fascinating moths.
Brian was a founder member of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Naturalists Trust (BBONT). In these days, when such county organisations are an
accepted part of the conservation scene, it is perhaps difficult to appreciate that they
256 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001
were once tender shoots which could so easily have withered away. From 1960 to
1970, during this formative period, Brian was the Berkshire Secretary to the Trust. It
was through his efforts and gentle personality, and the generosity of a local
landowner, that the lovely Moor Copse Reserve was bequeathed to BBONT and I
can think of no better memorial to Brian’s name and memory than this particular
event.
Brian had a long association with Pamber Forest where he collected or studied
insects over many years. How well he approved of the management plans recently
introduced to bring this area back to its former glory. He would recall many of his
trips to this area but I often heard him say, rather sadly, that it was a pity it wasn’t in
Berkshire as he couldn’t use the records in his book! The last time that I saw Brian in
Pamber Forest he was sugaring the same oak trees from which he had recorded
Catocala promissa (light crimson underwing) many years ago, anxious to know if this
magnificent moth was still present in the forest.
The notes above detail just some of Brian’s achievements but many lepidopterists
today will have other, more personal, memories of this remarkable man. I first met
Brian in 1984 when I moved to Reading from Derbyshire, and I was immediately
impressed not only by his knowledge but by the friendly and enthusiastic manner in
which he introduced me to some of the many interesting sites around Reading. At the
Woolhampton reed beds he proudly showed me the old bunker in which he spent
many nights whilst surveying the moths of the area during one busy season. He
teased post-hibernation larvae of Diachrysia chryson (scarce burnished brass) from
rank vegetation like a conjurer producing rabbits from a hat, and showed me how to
find freshly emerged Hydraecia petasitis (butterbur) clinging to the underside of
leaves along the river bank. He was always much more interested in hearing about
other people’s captures or records than telling about his own. He actively encouraged
an interest in all aspects of natural history in all he met and showed so much patience
when explaining things to people with much less knowledge and experience than
himself.
His study at his lovely home in Caversham was an Aladdin’s cave of treasures for
all those with an interest in butterflies and moths. Cabinets, breeding cages, setting
boards, books, paintings, spent matches and pipe cleaners filled the room and it
would have taken a full week of careful study to have done justice to his collection.
Each insect in his collection seemed to tell a story of a particular field trip, a success
in the breeding cage or his memories of finding the larva after many hours of patient
field work.
Brian will be remembered with affection and respect by all who knew him, and
with gratitude by those whom he helped and inspired. Our sincere sympathy is
extended to Heather, to Mark and Anne and all members of his family.
DAVID YOUNG
BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
PUBLICATIONS
A field guide to the smaller British Lepidoptera—edited by A. M. Emmet.
2nd edition, 1988, 288 pages.
Paperback £18.00 (plus £1.60 p.&p.) (members £12.00+ £1.60 p.&p.). Case bound
£22.50 (plus £2.00 p.&p.) (members £15.00 + £2.00 p.&p.).
This book is packed with information about the life histories of almost all the 1500 species of
micro-lepidoptera recorded from the British Isles. An index of foodplants refers the reader to all
spp. known to feed on each particular plant; this makes possible the speedy identification of
larvae found (or at least narrows the field to a small number of spp.).
British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide—by A. Stubbs, with colour plates
by S. Falk.
July 2000 edition, incorporating the second supplement as an appendix, 315 pages of
text plus 12 colour plates. Casebound £26.00 (plus £3.15 p.&p.) (members
£18.00 + £3.50 p.&p.). Includes new addendum on revised nomenclature.
This is the most comprehensive book yet published on the British hoverflies. 256 spp. are
described and their identification is made easy by the extensive keys, profusely illustrated with
line figures. The superb plates show 263 specimens, depicting 190 different spp.
British hoverflies: second supplement—by A. Stubbs.
Published 1996, 55 pages, to update earlier editions of the parent book.
Paperback £6.00 (plus £0.60 p.&p.) (members £4.00 + £0.60 p.&p.).
Among the features of this supplement:
A review of some advances in the study of the biology of hoverflies
Advances in conservation studies and methods
Guides for identification of the 15 spp. new to the list since 1983. This includes
new, fully revised, illustrated keys to British Sphaerophoria and Platycheirus.
A key to female Neocnemodon (which could not be identified before)
A further bibliography of about 300 references. Over 100 line figures.
New British beetles: species not in Joy’s practical handbook—by P. J. Hodge and
R. A. Jones
Published 1995, 192 pages.
Casebound £24.00 (now out of print). Paperback £18.00 (plus £2.00 p.&p.) (members
£12.00 + £2.00 p.&p.).
There are over 650 British beetles not included in Norman Joy’s Practical handbook of British
beetles. Some of these are new arrivals from the continent or further afield: others have been
confused or overlooked. Many groups have undergone revision and spp. have been ‘split’. Joy
omitted many rare or doubtfully indigenous spp. Several of these have recently increased or
been confirmed as certainly occurring (or having once occurred) in Britain. Many modern keys
have been published since Joy’s book, but these are often scattered through (sometimes obscure)
journals.
New British beetles puts these changes into perspective and offers a new look at the changes
that have taken place in the 63 years since Joy’s publication. The most up-to-date and useful
keyworks are listed, together with other helpful and interesting references. or each ‘new’ species,
a short description and comparison with other related spp. is followed by journal and book
references through which identification can be made and confirmed.
All prices are for single copies dispatched to addresses in the UK. Postage will be
higher for multiple copy orders or where delivery is required overseas. Send orders to
Mr G. Boyd, Sales Secretary, 91 Fullingdale Road, Northampton NN3 2PZ. Tel.
01604 410056.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY
VOLUME 13, PART 4, JANUARY 2001
ARTICLES
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) new to Britain. R. D. HAWKINS
Pseudocollinella jorlii (Carles-Tolra) (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) new to Britain, and new
records of Sphaeroceriidae from Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan. P. GATT
The nymphal stages of the field grasshopper, Chortippus brunneus (Thunberg) (Orthoptera:
Acrididae). G. B. COLLINS
Fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea) new to Britain. P. J. CHANDLER
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Hoverfly (Syrphidae) records from North Uist and the Monarch Islands, Scotland—July 1999.
A McCoLiLouGH & A. WAKEHAM-DAWSON.
Behavioural observations of Philanthus triangulum (Fab.) (Hymenoptera). J. MOORE.
Notes on the Irish Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) including two species new to
Ireland. J. P. O'CONNOR & R. NASH.
Stigmus pendulus (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) associated with ancient woodlands in
south-east London. R. A. JONES.
Ranatra linearis (L.) (Heteroptera: Nepidae) in flight. J. DENTON.
PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS
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Obituary: Brian Robert Baker
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